Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Harry Kane headed past Rob Green to score his opening goal against QPR

• Tottenham up to sixth in Premier League

• Kane scores in either half

• Sandro nets QPR consolation

• QPR three points adrift of safety

Two goals from in-form Harry Kane lifted Tottenham back in to the Premier League top six as they punished a wasteful QPR at Loftus Road.

England hopeful Kane headed unmarked from an Andros Townsend free-kick to open the scoring in the first half.

He netted his 16th Premier League goal of the season after the break following a through ball from Ryan Mason.

Sandro pulled a goal back for QPR, who twice had appeals for penalties turned down by referee Craig Pawson.

An 18th defeat of the season leaves QPR three points adrift off safety in the bottom three and with just one win from the last 11 games.

They remain without a win at home under head coach Chris Ramsey and still have to play three of the top five teams in their remaining 10 games.

In front of the watching England manager Roy Hodgson, Kane scored his 25th and 26th goals of the season in all competitions. Only Wolves striker Benik Afobe has scored as many in either the Premier League or Football League.

Hodgson would have also been keeping an eye on QPR's Charlie Austin with England to face Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier and then Italy in a friendly at the end of March.

Both players were involved in the early exchanges, but it was Bobby Zamora who had Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris scrambling across his line to tip a header over the bar in the opening minute.

Tottenham, who made just one change from the side which beat Swansea 3-2 on Wednesday, responded immediately as Kane's close-range header was palmed over by QPR keeper Rob Green.

Kyle Walker then put Lloris in trouble with a back pass which gave Austin a great chance to put QPR in front, but Lloris reacted with a fine save to his left.

Austin linked neatly with Matty Phillips, who fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box and then hammered a shot against the underside of the bar with a left-footed strike.

Tottenham survived the pressure and went ahead when Kane nodded in Townsend's free-kick. Green was caught out coming off his line as Kane outmuscled Nedum Onuoha to finish with ease.

The goal edged Kane one ahead of Austin in the Premier League goal scoring charts, who currently has 15 for the season.

QPR appealed for a penalty when Mauricio Isla, one of two changes to the QPR side which lost 2-1 to Arsenal on Wednesday, went down in the area under a challenge from Lloris, but their appeals were waved away.

Tottenham maintained a high tempo after the break and Christian Eriksen curled a right-foot shot against a post moments after the restart.

Zamora struck a left-foot half volley from inside the box which forced Lloris to tip behind for a corner and Austin took up the unlikely role of a defender as he slid to clear an Eriksen goal-bound shot off the line.

Tottenham's pressure eventually told as Kane doubled the lead by evading the offside trap. Mason's ball over the top found the striker unmarked and he calmly rounded Green to slot home.

Sandro rifled a low right-foot shot past Lloris from Zamora's lay-off with 15 minutes to go as QPR pulled a goal back.

The hosts were again appealing for a penalty as Nabil Bentaleb appeared to block Austin's shot on goal with both hands.

QPR head coach Chris Ramsey speaking to Match of the Day: "We're very disappointed. We thought we deserved at least a point from the game with two controversial incidents [QPR's two penalty claims] we need clarification on.

"We're going to need to take a look at those and we hope they don't cost us at the end of the season. We appreciate the referees have a difficult job and sometimes they go against you.

"There's a point where you need a break, but we can't rely on that, we need to keep working.

"I haven't walked off the pitch in one game and thought the players haven't given their all, so that gives you hope. But, the problem is the games are starting to ebb away now and we need wins."

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino speaking to Match of the Day: "I'm very proud of our performance, we showed big character against a difficult opponent on a difficult stage.

"We showed today the way we play and the character we have.

"The way QPR play is long ball and on the edge of the box, they have strength in the air through Bobby Zamora and Charlie Austin, but we handled it.

"The reaction after going out of Europe has been fantastic. It was difficult after the defeat against Fiorentina [in the Europa League].

"The response has been fantastic from the squad in the big games that have followed. We have to go away and train hard to focus on our next match against Manchester United."

The Tottenham dugout shield their eyes from the sun on a bright afternoon at Loftus Road

QPR striker Charlie Austin saw a left-foot shot strike the crossbar

Mauricio Isla had a penalty appeal turned down as he was challenged by Hugo Lloris

Harry Kane rounded Rob Green before slotting home for Tottenham's second goal

QPR defender Rio Ferdinand appeals in vain to referee Craig Pawson for a penalty

Hugo Lloris was unable to stop Sandro from pulling a goal back for QPR