Jack Clarke scored twice as Sunderland beat QPR at Loftus Road to move into the play-off spots. Luke O'Nien's first-half goal set the Black Cats on their way to victory.
And Anthony Patterson saved Ilias Chair's penalty just after the hour to preserve Sunderland's lead. On-loan Leeds United man Joe Gelhardt hit the crossbar, but Clarke killed the game off in the final ten minutes when he doubled Sunderland's lead, and then he added his second - and his team's third - in injury time.
With Millwall losing at Coventry City, and Burnley scoring a 95th minute equaliser against Watford, Sunderland's win was enough to lift Tony Mowbray's men to fifth place in the Championship table. For QPR, the pressure continues to grow on boss Neil Critchley as his side's winless streak extended to ten games in all competitions.
