Queens Park Rangers started Saturday's clash with Sunderland at Loftus Road looking to pick up back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time this season.
Their afternoon got off to a bad start when Steven Fletcher opened the scoring for the visitors, but they were level at the break thanks to Loic Remy's strike.
Andros Townsend then put QPR ahead with 20 minutes left to play with a spectacular effort before Jermaine Jenas wrapped up the three points late on with an equally eye-catching drive.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to discover how the action unfolded.
Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of today's Premier League meeting between Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland at Loftus Road.
Despite still being bottom of the league, QPR picked up three vital points last weekend when they beat fellow strugglers Southampton 2-1 at St Mary's. The victory means that Harry Redknapp's side are now four points from safety.
QPR can do something today that they have been unable to do all season - win a second consecutive match in the Premier League.
It looks like we have some team news in...
QPR: Green; Bosingwa, Samba, Hill, Fabio; Townsend, Park, Mbia, Hoilett; Zamora, Remy
QPR SUBS: Murphy, Wright-Phillips, Mackie, Granero, Onuoha, Jenas, Bothroyd
The big news with regards to QPR is that there is no place in the squad for Adel Taarabt. The Moroccan was on the bench for last weekend's win over Southampton, but he misses out today. Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp has made four changes in total as Robert Green, Fabio da Silva, Andros Townsend and Bobby Zamora all come in.
SUNDERLAND: Mignolet; N'Diaye, O'Shea, Bramble, Colback; Larsson, Gardner, Johnson, Sessegnon; Fletcher, Graham
SUNDERLAND SUBS: Westwood, Bardsley, Rose, Kilgallon, Vaughan, Mangane, Cuellar
Today's visitors to Loftus Road have named an unchanged starting XI following last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Fulham. However, Danny Rose is named among the substitutes in place of James McClean.
Sunderland will be very keen to avoid defeat in the capital today as they start the game just six points above the drop zone. It's been a frustratingly inconsistent season for Martin O'Neill's men so far.
The Black Cats would have been pleased with last weekend's 2-2 draw with Fulham after they came back from 2-0 down to earn a point. However, they are without a win in six matches.
UPDATE: As if you didn't know, it's also FA Cup quarter-final weekend and there is already one match nearing its conclusion. It's been quite an afternoon at Goodison Park from a Wigan Athletic perspective as they currently lead Everton 3-0 with just under 15 minutes remaining. We'll bring you the full-time score as soon as the whistle goes on Merseyside.
There was little to split between QPR and Sunderland when they met at the Stadium of Light back in October as the two sides played out a goalless draw. Every point has been crucial for QPR this season and that wasn't a bad one to take away from the North East.
Incredibly, QPR's last victory over Sunderland was in April 1991. Since then, the Black Cats have won seven times and there have been four draws.
With Wigan in FA Cup action and fellow strugglers Reading taking on Aston Villa today as well, a win for QPR could be seen as one of their biggest results of the season. Meanwhile, a victory for Sunderland would surely give them one foot in the Premier League for next season.
UPDATE: The full-time whistle goes at Goodison Park and it's Wigan Athletic who make their way through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with an eye-catching 3-0 win over Everton. The Latics scored three goals in three crazy first-half minutes through Maynor Figueroa, Callum McManaman and Jordi Gomez.
For the record, Wigan have never reached the semi-finals of the competition, so you have to take your hat off to manager Roberto Martinez as his unpredictable journey at the club continues.
Okay then, prediction time. QPR will have got a massive boost from last weekend's win at Southampton and I reckon they'll see off Sunderland today as well. The Black Cats have been hard to second guess this season and they could romp to a victory, but I can see Harry Redknapp's men taking another big step towards safety this afternoon.
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Around five minutes until this one gets underway and the players are in the tunnel ready to go.
Here they come to a rousing reception from the fans. There semms to be a real sense of anticipation around Loftus Road this afternoon.
Okay then, it will be Sunderland to get us going in this one...
Sunderland look threatening in the opening stages as they whip a couple of crosses into the area that the QPR defence deals with. Larsson the has a crack at goal from 25 yards, but his effort is blocked.
CHANCE! QPR nearly take the lead through Hoilett! The tricky winger creates some space for himself out on the left side before dragging his shot inches wide across the face of the goal. Mignolet was beaten there.
CHANCE! QPR nearly take the lead through Hoilett! The tricky winger creates some space for himself out on the left side before dragging his shot inches wide across the face of the goal. Mignolet was beaten there.
It's evenly matched now at Loftus Road as both sides look to attack when in possession. The visitors put together a promising move, but it comes to an end when Sessegnon gives away the foul. At the other end, some QPR fans are wanting a penalty as Zamora goes down under O'Shea's challenge. However, referee Mike Jones correctly gives a goal kick. Nothing doing there.
Townsend tries a speculative effort on the Sunderland goal that flies well over the crossbar. Another 10 or 15 metres lower and that could have troubled Mignolet.
CHANCE! Another effort from Hoilett, but again it goes wide. This time he worked the ball onto his favoured right foot before smashing a powerful drive past the post.
QPR are well on top now. They're using all of the pitch really well and look extremely purposeful when going forward. The fans are responding with plenty of noise from the stands.
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Hoilett is in the thick of the action again as he looks to play in Zamora, but his pass has too much on it and just runs through to Mignolet. Zamora showed great movement there to sneak in behind O'Shea.
Not the best attempt on goal for Sunderland as N'Diaye tamely hits his shot wide. The visitors are not looking very dangerous at the moment.
GOAL! QPR 0-1 SUNDERLAND (FLETCHER)
A classic example of the commentator's curse if ever I saw it. Sunderland break quickly with Sessegnon, who finds Johnson at the back post. The winger drives a low cross (that might have even been a shot) across goal and Fletcher is there to tap in his 11th goal of the season.
That goal came totally against the run of play. QPR had all of the momentum going forward before Fletcher's strike. Now it's Sunderland who are looking more hungry.
WHOOSH! The home side attack the Sunderland goal, but Mbia eventually whacks a shot well over the crossbar. The midfielder showed no composure whatsoever there, despite a number of teammates in better positions in and around the box.
CHANCE! A decent opening for Sunderland to double their lead. Larsson whips in a wicked cross from the right side that Graham can only head wide. The striker had to stoop low with Samba in attendance so it was a good effort all things considered.
GOAL! QPR 1-1 SUNDERLAND (REMY)
QPR level and it's Loic Remy with the goal. Townsend's initial effort from the edge of the box was deflected through to the Frenchman, who swept the ball home cooly past Mignolet from eight yards. Loftus Road is bouncing again.
CHANCE! Remy almost scores a second, but his flicked header is collected by Mignolet. A touch more power on that and it could have found its way past the Belgian.
CHANCE! It's Remy again and he really should have done better there. Zamora headed the ball down into the path of his striker partner, who volleyed over from eight yards. That was a glorious opportunity.
Mbia tries his luck from about 30 yards that Mignolet needs two bites of the cherry to collect. I've cursed QPR already today in the build-up to Sunderland's goal, but if any team looks likely to score next then it's the home side.
Five minutes of normal time left to play in this first half at Loftus Road and it's 1-1 between the sides after Loic Remy cancelled out Steven Fletcher's opener.
Sunderland are fancying themselves a bit more in these last few minutes. They're passing the ball around with a bit more urgency, but there's a distinct lack of incisiveness when they enter the final third.
One minute of added time at the end of this first half...
One minute of added time at the end of this first half...
HALF TIME: QPR 1-1 SUNDERLAND
Sorry for the delay in bringing you the start of the second half. We are currently experiencing a couple of technical issues that we hope will be sorted shortly. It is still 1-1 with 52 minutes played.
Huge apologies again for the technical issues there but we're back. Just under an hour left to play and it's still 1-1.
Harry Redknapp is prowling the touchline now. He cut a fairly calm figure during the first half, but he knows that the game is entering a crucial stage now.
The visitors have enjoyed the better of the possession in the last few minutes. QPR are struggling to get the ball off them, particularly in midfield.
Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill leaps off the bench in fury following Hill's foul on Sessegnon. It was certainly robust, but it looked fair from here.
CHANCE! Great play from Townsend as he drives towards the Sunderland goal, only for his show to be blocked. The youngster has been full of verve today. Now it's the hosts who are looking dangerous.
GOAL! QPR 2-1 SUNDERLAND (TOWNSEND)
What a goal from Andros Townsend! That is quite superb! The ball falls to the midfielder about 30 yards from goal and he half-volleys it past Mignolet to score quite possibly the goal of the weekend.
SUBSTITUTION: Bobby Zamora's afternoon comes to an end as he is replaced by Jamie Mackie.
Can QPR keep their nerve now? They've got around 15 minutes to hold onto this precious lead, a lead that could mean so much in their battle for Premier League survival.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Changes for both sides now as Shaun Wright-Phillips replaces Junior Hoilett, while Alfred N'Diaye comes off for David Vaughan for Sunderland.
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SUBSTITUTION: QPR make their final changes with Loic Remy coming off for Jermaine Jenas. Remy receives a huge ovation from the home fans for his efforts this afternoon.
The hosts win a free kick out on the left and Bosingwa surprises everyone when he tries to curl the ball into the near post. Mignolet didn't look too flustered there, but it was close to sneaking in.
Bosingwa is involved again as his cross is headed over by Samba. Sunderland are very much hanging on at the back now as they push forward in search for an equaliser.
The QPR hierarchy don't look particularly worried up in the posh seats. Not that you can tell behind their expensive sunglasses...
GOAL! QPR 3-1 SUNDERLAND (JENAS)
It's another superb goal for the home side as Jermaine Jenas lashes in a half-volley from a similar distance to Townsend's past Mignolet. Wonderful stuff.
There will be five minutes of added time, of which we've had two...
Larsson's free kick is headed towards goal by Fletcher, but it's tame and Green gathers.
FULL TIME: QPR 3-1 SUNDERLAND
The full-time whistle goes and QPR have earned back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time this season with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at Loftus Road.
The bad news for QPR is that Aston Villa have beaten Reading 2-1, so they are still four points from safety at the bottom of the table. However, they've got a taste for victory now and who would bet against them getting out of trouble.
It must be mentioned that the goals from Andros Townsend and Jermaine Jenas were both spectacular. Townsend's in particular is sure to be shown again and again.
Anyway, that's all from me for now. We hope that you've enjoyed the coverage and remember that you can keep up to date with the rest of the Premier League and FA cup action across the weekend here on Sports Mole. Thank you and goodnight!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
