By Neil Johnston BBC Sport

QPR's relegation troubles increased as James McClean inspired Sunderland to an easy win at the Stadium of Light.

The Londoners finished with 10 men after Djibril Cisse was sent off against his former club for an ugly challenge on Fraizer Campbell.

QPR trailed to Nicklas Bendtner's header following McClean's cross before the Irishman struck with a low finish.

Stephane Sessegnon made it 3-0, Taye Taiwo scoring QPR's consolation from a 22-yard free-kick.

Defensive frailty frustrate Hughes

QPR manager Mark Hughes had shown his ruthless streak before the game by dropping captain Joey Barton, with ex-Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand handed the armband on his first return to the Stadium of Light since leaving last August.

His team had scored three times in the final 13 minutes to beat Liverpool 3-2 in midweek and boost their chances of staying up.

But Hughes had warned that result would count for nothing if his side failed to perform at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland, meanwhile, bounced back in style from the lacklustre 2-0 defeat at Blackburn in midweek, with Martin O'Neill's side better from start to finish.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ray Wilkins was QPR manager when the Londoners last secured back-to-back wins in the Premier League in December 1995.

McClean celebrated the new contract he signed on the eve of the game by delivering a couple of early corners which caused panic in the QPR defence.

From the first, Shaun Derry's block denied John O'Shea, before the former Manchester United player went off injured.

Bendtner was allowed to get his head on another McClean set-piece before Jack Colback, making his 100th senior appearance, flashed a volley narrowly wide as QPR quickly found themselves under pressure.

After stunning Liverpool, the Londoners struggled to seriously test Sunderland.

Striker Bobby Zamora's main first-half contribution was squaring up to Sotiros Kyrgiakos and then reacting as though he had been headbutted when he had not.

QPR had not managed to keep a clean sheet since beating Chelsea on 23 October and they again failed to shut out their opponents as Bendtner arrowed an unstoppable header past Paddy Kenny following a delicious cross from the impressive McClean four minutes before half-time.

Cisse went close to equalising, but Sunderland rarely looked troubled after he was given his marching orders with more than half an hour remaining.

The former Liverpool player could have few complaints after an ugly challenge on substitute Campbell.

O'Neill happy with excellent performance

McClean then doubled the lead with a low finish from an acute angle.

QPR were in tatters and fell further behind when David Vaughan delivered the perfect cross for Sessegnon to fire home at the far post.

Taiwo reduced the deficit with a superb free-kick, but there were no more late heroics.

QPR manager Mark Hughes:

"We made too many poor decisions. We didn't perform anything like to the same levels we did against Liverpool. If we're going to get out of this situation then we're going to have to play a lot better defensively than we did here."

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill:

"I'm delighted. There were some great individual performances and now we've got to 40 points we can set our sights a little bit higher. I thought James was absolutely outstanding. He deserves every signle penny [of his new contract]. He's got a great attitude."

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (6)

Sunderland

  • 22 Mignolet
  • 03 Bridge Booked (Meyler - 70' )
  • 04 Turner
  • 16 O'Shea (Campbell - 27' )
  • 25 Kyrgiakos Booked
  • 08 Gardner
  • 14 Colback
  • 15 Vaughan
  • 23 McClean
  • 28 Sessegnon
  • 52 Bendtner (Elmohamady - 82' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Gordon
  • 12 Kilgallon
  • 18 Meyler
  • 27 Elmohamady
  • 09 Campbell
  • 10 Wickham
  • 17 Ji Dong-Won

Queens Park Rangers

  • 01 Kenny
  • 18 Young Booked
  • 34 Taiwo
  • 35 Ferdinand
  • 42 Onuoha
  • 02 Diakite Booked (Buzsaky - 52' )
  • 04 Derry
  • 07 Taarabt (Wright-Phillips - 60' )
  • 12 Mackie
  • 23 Cisse Dismissed
  • 52 Zamora Booked (Bothroyd - 82' )

Substitutes

  • 24 Cerny
  • 03 Hill
  • 06 Gabbidon
  • 14 Buzsaky
  • 17 Barton
  • 32 Wright-Phillips
  • 10 Bothroyd
Ref: Jones
Att: 37,128

Match Stats

Shots

15 10

On target

8 6

Corners

5 2

Fouls

11 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:09 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:39

Free kick awarded for a foul by Fraizer Campbell on Nedum Onuoha. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

90:00 +3:05

Corner taken right-footed by Akos Buzsaky from the right by-line, David Meyler manages to make a clearance.

88:06

The ball is swung over by Jamie Mackie.

86:44

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Young by Stephane Sessegnon. Direct free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

86:15

Shaun Wright-Phillips has an effort at goal from outside the area which misses left.

85:23

A cross is delivered by Shaun Wright-Phillips, Michael Turner makes a clearance.

84:54

Taye Taiwo sends in a cross.

83:59

Foul by Jamie Mackie on Jack Colback, free kick awarded. Jack Colback takes the free kick.

81:36 Substitution

Substitution Jay Bothroyd on for Bobby Zamora.

81:07 Substitution

Substitution Ahmed Elmohamady is brought on as a substitute for Nicklas Bendtner.

80:48

James McClean produces a cross, Nicklas Bendtner produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.

80:26

The ball is crossed by Akos Buzsaky, clearance by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

78:07

Bobby Zamora provided the assist for the goal.

78:07 Goal scored

Goal - Taye Taiwo - Sunderland 3 - 1 QPR Taye Taiwo scores a goal direct from the free kick from long range to the top right corner of the goal. Sunderland 3-1 QPR.

77:17

Unfair challenge on Bobby Zamora by Michael Turner results in a free kick.

75:20

Assist on the goal came from David Vaughan.

75:20 Goal scored

Goal - Stephane Sessegnon - Sunderland 3 - 0 QPR Stephane Sessegnon scores a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Sunderland 3-0 QPR.

73:32

The assistant referee flags for offside against Jamie Mackie. Simon Mignolet takes the free kick.

72:39

Effort from outside the penalty area by Akos Buzsaky goes wide left of the goal.

70:00

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jay Bothroyd on Michael Turner. Free kick taken by Michael Turner.

70:00 Substitution

Substitution David Meyler joins the action as a substitute, replacing Wayne Bridge.

69:54

James McClean produces a drilled left-footed shot from 12 yards. Blocked by Luke Young.

69:18 Goal scored

Goal - James McClean - Sunderland 2 - 0 QPR James McClean grabs a goal from inside the penalty box low into the middle of the goal. Sunderland 2-0 QPR.

68:34

James McClean produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

67:59

Corner taken left-footed by James McClean to the near post, Bobby Zamora makes a clearance.

67:12

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Shaun Wright-Phillips by Jack Colback. Free kick taken by Luke Young.

64:58

Wayne Bridge concedes a free kick for a foul on Bobby Zamora. Akos Buzsaky restarts play with the free kick.

64:16

Craig Gardner takes a corner.

63:48

The ball is sent over by Craig Gardner, James McClean takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Young.

62:12

The ball is delivered by Craig Gardner.

59:38 Substitution

Substitution Shaun Wright-Phillips replaces Adel Taarabt.

58:40

Centre by Adel Taarabt, blocked by Michael Turner.

57:39

Effort from deep inside the area by Stephane Sessegnon misses to the right of the goal.

54:20

Free kick taken by Jack Colback.

54:20 Dismissal

Dismissal Djibril Cisse dismissed for serious foul play.

54:04

Djibril Cisse gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fraizer Campbell.

52:49

Shaun Derry gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Fraizer Campbell. Strike comes in from Craig Gardner from the free kick,

51:35 Substitution

Substitution Akos Buzsaky on for Samba Diakite.

48:16

Effort on goal by David Vaughan from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

47:26

A cross is delivered by Fraizer Campbell, clearance by Anton Ferdinand.

47:19

The ball is crossed by James McClean.

47:08

Craig Gardner delivers the ball.

45:12

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Bobby Zamora by Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Adel Taarabt.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +3:27 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +2:46

Adel Taarabt delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Fraizer Campbell manages to make a clearance.

45:00 +2:46 Booking

Booking Wayne Bridge goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

45:00 +2:38

Wayne Bridge gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jamie Mackie.

45:00 +0:57

The referee blows for offside against Djibril Cisse. Free kick taken by Simon Mignolet.

43:27

Unfair challenge on Stephane Sessegnon by Taye Taiwo results in a free kick. Stephane Sessegnon takes the free kick.

41:49

Corner taken by Adel Taarabt from the left by-line, Anton Ferdinand challenges Nicklas Bendtner unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Simon Mignolet.

41:26

Taye Taiwo delivers the ball, Djibril Cisse takes a shot. Sotirios Kyrgiakos gets a block in.

40:01

James McClean provided the assist for the goal.

40:01 Goal scored

Goal - Nicklas Bendtner - Sunderland 1 - 0 QPR Nicklas Bendtner finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Sunderland 1-0 QPR.

39:51

The ball is sent over by Stephane Sessegnon, clearance made by Nedum Onuoha.

39:10

Adel Taarabt has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Craig Gardner gets a block in.

36:35

Fraizer Campbell challenges Taye Taiwo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Patrick Kenny takes the direct free kick.

36:21

James McClean delivers the ball, clearance by Taye Taiwo.

33:11 Booking

Booking Sotirios Kyrgiakos receives a caution.

33:03 Booking

Booking Bobby Zamora goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

31:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Turner on Jamie Mackie. Adel Taarabt produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, Nicklas Bendtner gets a block in.

28:45

Samba Diakite gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Vaughan. Free kick taken by Craig Gardner.

27:39

Shot from 25 yards from Stephane Sessegnon. Blocked by Nedum Onuoha.

26:53 Substitution

Substitution Fraizer Campbell replaces John O'Shea.

25:36

Bobby Zamora produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

24:29

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by James McClean.

24:22

The ball is sent over by John O'Shea, Taye Taiwo manages to make a clearance.

21:44

The ball is sent over by Craig Gardner, Stephane Sessegnon has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

21:18

Effort from 18 yards by Djibril Cisse. John O'Shea gets a block in.

20:04

Free kick taken by Wayne Bridge.

20:04 Booking

Booking Booking for Luke Young for unsporting behaviour.

19:52

Luke Young concedes a free kick for a foul on James McClean.

19:28

Nicklas Bendtner is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

19:15

James McClean crosses the ball.

18:23

A cross is delivered by Adel Taarabt, Michael Turner manages to make a clearance.

13:51

Stephane Sessegnon crosses the ball, Nicklas Bendtner takes a shot. Taye Taiwo gets a block in.

17:25

Shot by David Vaughan from 12 yards. Anton Ferdinand gets a block in.

16:19

Jamie Mackie fouled by Jack Colback, the ref awards a free kick. Nedum Onuoha restarts play with the free kick.

15:41

Luke Young produces a cross, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Jamie Mackie misses to the right of the target.

14:28

Jack Colback produces a drilled left-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

13:51

Stephane Sessegnon crosses the ball, Jack Colback takes a shot. Blocked by Taye Taiwo.

10:43

Sotirios Kyrgiakos restarts play with the free kick.

10:43 Booking

Booking The referee shows Samba Diakite a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

10:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Samba Diakite on Jack Colback.

9:19

Corner taken by James McClean played to the near post, Luke Young manages to make a clearance.

8:35

Corner taken left-footed by James McClean from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Shaun Derry.

8:14

The ball is crossed by James McClean, clearance by Anton Ferdinand.

5:50

Jamie Mackie produces a cross, clearance made by Michael Turner.

4:51

The assistant referee signals for offside against Stephane Sessegnon. Indirect free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

3:08

Craig Gardner concedes a free kick for a foul on Adel Taarabt. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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