Jonathan Walters grabbed a hat-trick as Queens Park Rangers slumped to their 11th successive away defeat in the Premier League with a 3-1 reverse at Stoke City.
The Republic of Ireland international struck two first-half goals as the Potters looked in cruise control at the Britannia.
However, Niko Kranjcar reduced the arrears almost immediatly after his second but, despite controlling the second half, Rangers failed in their bid for an equaliser.
Against the run of play, Walters wrapped up the points with a late header to seal his first treble in Stoke colours.
Below, relive the drama with our live commentary.
Good afternoon and you're very welcome to our live text commentary as QPR travel to Stoke City in search of their first away win this season. In fact, even a draw would represent some improvement because they've lost all 10 of their games away from Loftus Road this season - the first top-flight team to earn that distinction since Sunderland 50 years ago. So Clint Hill was only one then.
Yep, QPR are certainly roadkill when it comes to travelling, but it is worth pointing out that the Britannia Stadium isn't quite the fortress that it was under, say, Tony Pulis, whose Stoke side seldom suffered a home defeat. Under Mark Hughes, City have won just four and netted 12 times from their 10 home outings this season, which isn't great and the visitors will be buoyed by Stoke's struggles at the Britannia.
Having said that, Hughes's side are playing decent at the moment; losing just one of their last five - a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal - and thumped Rochdale 4-1 in the FA Cup on Monday night, but did that win come at a cost?
Bojan Krkic, who scored a cracker in that game and overall looked to be finally enjoying his football again following failed loan spells at Ajax, AC Milan and Roma, was ruled out for the season during the week after suffering a knee injury at Rochdale. It will have come as a massive blow to him, Hughes, and his teammates.
On a lighter note, Peter Crouch and Glenn Whelan both signed contract extensions with the Potters during the week. Have they earned starting berths today? I suppose we'll just have to find out with a bit of team news. But first, why not have a look at what the boys down at Sports Mole HQ have had to say on this one? Go on.
STOKE XI: Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Wilson; Nzonzi, Whelan; Arnautovic, Ireland, Moses; Walters
QPR XI: Green; Isla, Dunne, Onuoha, Hill; Vargas, Barton, Henry, Fer, Kranjcar; Autin
STOKE SUBS: Butland, Muniesa, Adam, Diouf, Cameron, Sidwell, Crouch
QPR SUBS: McCarthy, Yun, Zamora, Zarate, Hoilett, Phillips, Caulker
Right, we'll start with Stoke and I can tell you that Hughes makes two changes in total from that win over Rochdale.
Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic returns in place Jack Butland, while Stephen Ireland replaces the injured Bojan. Jon Walters starts up front ahead of Peter Crouch, while Ireland, Glenn Whelan, Steven N'Zonzi, Marko Arnautovic and Victor Moses line up in midfield. Meanwhile, it's the same back four, as Phil Bardsley, Ryan Shawcross, Phillipp Wollscheid and Marc Wilson line up from right to left.
On to QPR now and it's just the one change for them from the 2-0 defeat to Man United two weeks back, as Niko Kranjcar comes in to replace Bobby Zamora, meaning that Charlie Austin will spearhead the attck.
Further back you'll find Kranjar playing just behind Austin, while Leroy Fer and Eduardo Vargas provide wide support from the flanks, with Joey Barton and Karl Henry set to enforce in midfield. Richard Dunne shrugs off a calf injury to return at centre-back beside Nedum Onouha, with Mauricio Isla and Clint Hill continuing in the full-back slots, while Robert Green starts in net and that's your lot!
Stephen Ireland certainly isn't a like-for-like replacement for Bojan, who can Stoke look to for a bit of inspiration in the absence of the diminutive Spaniard?
Mame Biram Diouf is on the bench following Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal, and they're really not flush with attacking quality today. With four goals, Walters is their leading scorer in the first XI, but Victor Moses might just be the man to make them tick. He's fantastic when he's in form, and if he can provide enough service into that danger zone then Walters might thrive.
There's no prizes for guessing who QPR's go-to-guy is this afternoon then. Yep, with 13 Premier League goals, Charlie Austin is the division's third highest scorer this season and his club's leading marksman by about, hmm, 10 goals! Behind Austin is winger Leroy Fer, who has netted three times this season.
This makes for rather grim reading from a QPR perspective, and with the club 19th in the table, you wonder if their survival might just hinge on bringing in another striker to share the goalscoring burden with the 25-year-old. Speculation has mounted that Harry Redknapp has identified Italian hitman Marco Boriello as the man to come in and lead Rangers' survival bid alongside Austin. Jordan Mutch has been sold to Crystal Palace, so you have to assume that Redknapp is making space for a few incomings before Monday's 11pm deadline.
We mentioned the fact that QPR, like Sunderland of 50 years ago, are the only side since 1965 to lose their first 10 away games, but the Black Cats of that season actually beat the drop believe it or not. Let's look at one or two more bits of trivia:
DID YOU KNOW? Only two of Rangers' last 16 meetings with Stoke at the Britannia have ended in a draw? That's ominous for me, because I've put money on the draw this afternoon.
PREDICTION: Mystic Meg is my mate's auntie, and he told me to pass on this message from her: "Despite boasting the worst away form in the Premier League, I, Mystic Meg, have stared deep into my crystal ball and have seen QPR leaving the Britannia with a hard-earned point. The crystal ball does not lie." Who knew that she knew so much about football? She reckons 1-1, and I'm inclined to agree.
REFEREE WATCH: Humans lose 25% of their bodyheat through their scalp, so spare a thought for Mike Dean on this bitterly cold afternoon because, as we know, he is indeed a bald man. Did you know that he has dished out 1285 bookings and 68 red cards in his 352 games as a Premier League referee? Yep, but let's hope cards are at a minimum today - though with Steven N'Zonzi and Joey Barton on opposite sides he could well have his hands full.
Incidentally, Stoke are actually one of two clubs, along with Burnley, yet to receive a red card this season, so Mr Dean may not be adding to his 68 red cards this afternoon.
KICKOFF! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off at the Britannia, my friends. QPR, playing from right to left in this half, get us underway.
Pretty tentative start here then, with both sides launching hopeless long balls so far. Stoke will launch a free kick into the box now..
Pretty poor by Marko Arnautovic who, instead of floating that set piece into the danger zone, went for goal from about 40 yards and, well, suffice to say it went wide. Shocker.
Ugh, this is really poor. Niko Kranjcar wins a free kick, and QPR would've wanted to launch it into the box, but Leroy Fer elects to take it quickly and plays it straight to a red and white shirt. We've seen two woeful decisions from promising set pieces so far.
Eight minutes in and Charlie Austin is yet to touch the ball I think. He's one of those player though, isn't he. He could spent 89 minutes on the periphery of the game and still pounce with a decisive goal in the 90th minute. He's such a menace and Stoke can't be fooled by his anonymity so far.
Roy Keane is among those spectating inside the Britannia Stadium this afternoon. Why? I assume it's related to his duties as Martin O'Neill's assistant for the Republic of Ireland. His beard is back, which is good to see.
So poor. Stoke, who have conceded 11 goals from set-pieces this season, prepare to defend another one as Kranjcar looks to whip a free kick into the box, but it sails over everybody and glides out for a free kick.
Not a great game so far and we're yet to see a goalscoring chance. Still, it's only 15 minutes in so let's give it time, eh? My draw is looking good.
Good defensive work from Leroy Fer as the winger gets back in time to snuff out Victor Moses's cross, while Charlie Austin heads away the resulting corner. Good work from the QPR duo there.
GOAL!!!! STOKE 1-0 QPR (Jon Walters)
It's 1-0 to the hosts, and what a dreadful error from Karl Henry. The QPR midfielder lets Mauricio Isla's pass run past him, but Stephen Ireland is there and the Irishman shows executes a brilliant backheal instantly to release Walters, who slots beyond Rob Green from an angle. It came from an error, but it was still really good play from Ireland and a good finish from Walters.
How have QPR responded then? Not that great if we're honest. The opener has, if anything, given Stoke the impetus to build on their lead and they might just do that. They look increasingly dangerous going forward, with Victor Moses having plenty of joy down the left-hand flank so far.
CLOSE! This isn't far away at all, as Ireland executes a wonderful half-volley and it drifts just wide of Rob Green's post. He's been excellent in this first half-hour or so, Ireland has.
This is excellent pressing from Stoke, as Victor Moses chases a lost cause and ends up pressuring Richard Dunne into conceding a throw in. Excellent from the Potters.
QPR's passing just hasn't been good enough so far, especially in Stoke's half. Everytime they receive the ball in that area, which has been rare, the passing has let them down tremendously, with Fer particularly guilty.
GOAL!!!! STOKE 2-0 QPR (Walters)
This is a fantastic goal, and it's the same Ireland - Walters combination again. Stoke's pressing pays dividends once more as Ireland leads a counter attack, before playing a neat ball inside to the supporting Walters, who surges toward goal and effortlessly beats Rob Green with a superb left-footed finish. Excellent.
GOAL!!!! STOKE 2-1 QPR (Niko Kranjcar)
Now then, what a dramatic last few minutes at the Britannia. It's brilliant work by Leroy Fer, who surges through Stoke's midfield and plays it out wide to Barton, who finds Austin lurking in the middle, but he scuffs his shot and Kranjcar is on hand to tap home from close range. Game on!
There's a few worrying signs for Stoke now as Ryan Shawcross lies on the turf and receives a bit of treatment for what looks a groin problem. Marc Muniesa is now warming up on the sidelines.
There's no sub on yet and Shawcross gingerly makes his way back on to the field. He doesn't look right and I think we'll be seeing Muniesa soon.
SUB: Yep, Shawcross makes his way off the field again and on comes Spaniard Marc Muniesa. That's a blow for Stoke.
SUB: Yep, Shawcross makes his way off the field again and on comes Spaniard Marc Muniesa. That's a blow for Stoke.
HALF TIME: STOKE 2-1 QPR
That's all she wrote from that first half, my friends. Stoke raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of a brace from Jonathan Walters, but QPR pulled one back through Niko Kranjcar just moments after the second goal and that has given them a real lifeline ahead of the second half.
Welcome back. Right, Stoke players are back out on the field ahead of the second half, which is just moments away now.
RESTART: We're back underway at the Britannia and there's one sub to tell you about as Bobby Zamora replaces Karl Henry, who made the mistake which led to Stoke's first goal.
Stoke, who ended that first half in brilliant fashion, have started in the same fashion here and it's all City so far. Completely one-way traffic. Charlie Austin will hope that Zamora's introduction helps him get into the game a little more because he did very little in that first half.
SHOT! I think this might actually be QPR's second shot in the game, the first being a goal, as Eduardo Vargas, who's been completely anonymous, fires well over the bar from a decent position. Hmm.
SHOT! What an effort this is, as Phil Bardsley hits a ferocious free kick at goal but it sails narrowly over. Cruelly, it hit the stansion and nestled in the side-netting, prompting one section of the ground to believe it was in.
Just one or two signs in recent minutes that QPR are coming into it a little more. They don't have much of a choice because they've been well and truly second best so far.
SAVE! Wow, what an outstanding effort this was. Vargas, who kicked it out of the stadium earlier in this half, executes a fantastic acrobatic effort from outside the box but Begovic beat it away. We were looking at goal of the season had that been a metre either side of Begovic, my friends.
BOOKING: Well done Mr Mike Dean, who books Victor Moses for simulation. Moses has a bit of a reputation for that, doesn't he?
STOKE SUB: City make their second sub as Mark Hughes looks to match it up by going with two strikers, as Peter Crouch replaces Arnautovic.
QPR look like they're desperately missing a cutting edge up front, despite having two strikers. There's very little creativity, meaning that Austin and Zamora have little or nothing to feed off so far.
BOOKING: Another good decision by Mike Dean as he books Joey Barton for hacking at Stephen Ireland. Bit of a complaint from Barton, but that's par for the course really.
QPR SUB: Redknapp looks to change things up and Kranjcar, the goalscorer, is called ashore in favour of Junior Hoilett. He can certainly make things happen.
STOKE SUB: Stephen Ireland makes way to a standing ovation from the Stoke fans as Charlie Adam comes on for the last 20 minutes or so.
Right, now QPR have a free kick in a fine position now; problem is Kranjcar is gone off. It's won by Joey Barton and he might just be taking it. Let's see.
OFF THE BAR! So unlucky after a fine free kick from Barton as his long-range effort crashes off the crossbar.
There's still life left in QPR, you know, and it could just be a nervy last 10 minutes for the Potters. More good work from Barton and QPR have another free kick. It's not a shooting opportunity, but they'll fizz it into the box.
But that free kick comes to nothing as Isla's delivery left a little to be desired. Nine minutes left.
But that free kick comes to nothing as Isla's delivery left a little to be desired. Nine minutes left.
BOOKING: Walters becomes the fourth player in the book for bringing down Hoilett. Good position for a free kick....
SHOT! Brilliant shot and a brilliant save to match, as Leroy Fer lines up a free kick from about 35 yards and, despite seeing it all the way, Begovic does well to beat it away. Good save.
CHANCE! Oh what a very decent chance this was as Zamora lept highest to reach Barton's corner, but he didn't get a firm enough connection on it and the chance was gone.
FOUR MINUTES ADDED ON:
GOAL!!!! STOKE 3-1 QPR (Walters hat-trick)
Brilliant from Jon Walters as he wraps up his first hat-trick for Stoke with a fine header after Barton's own header looped up into the air. That's that.
FULL TIME: STOKE CITY 3-1 QUEENS PARK RANGERS
That's that, my friends. It's Jon Walters's day as the robust striker nets a hat-trick to see off QPR who, by the way, slump to their 11th successive Premier League away defeat. Poor. Enjoy your weekend and thanks for joining us.
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
