Crystal Palace 3-1 Queens Park Rangers

Wilfried Zaha collides with the post after Palace's opener against QPR

• QPR suffer 19th defeat in 29 league games this season

• Three points from 42 on the road for QPR

• Palace eight points clear of relegation

• Eagles win first home game since 10 January

QPR's relegation woes deepened after they slumped to defeat at Crystal Palace and suffered their eighth Premier League loss in nine games.

Palace took the lead when Wilfried Zaha slotted in a low Yannick Bolasie cross.

The home side then scored two goals in two minutes as James McArthur side-footed in another Bolasie cross and Joel Ward curled in a low shot.

Matt Phillips scored a brilliant 40-yard effort after 83 minutes but it was no more than a consolation strike.

Palace were too strong, too quick and had too much desire for a QPR side woefully lacking in all three departments.

The Hoops have the worst away record in the Premier League this season and they struggled all over the pitch on the way to a 13th defeat in 14 games on their travels.

The defeat left them four points from safety and still within sight of relegation-threatened Aston Villa, Hull and Sunderland, but they will have to show a massive improvement to escape the drop.

Matt Phillips' 40-yard strike was the goal from the longest distance in the Premier League this season

Palace had won just one of their last eight league and cup games at home but they quickly took control to dash QPR's hopes of a win.

Visiting striker Charlie Austin appealed for a foul when defender Scott Dann beat him to a header and referee Lee Mason's decision not to award the visitors a free-kick proved crucial.

Glenn Murray found Bolasie on Palace's left-wing and his cross to the far post was slotted in by Zaha, who injured himself in the process after colliding with the woodwork.

Two quick goals then put the home side out of reach. Palace's threat again came from Bolasie as his cross was tapped in by McArthur from point-blank range.

QPR barely had time to regroup before a recovered Zaha found right-back Ward and he curled in a shot.

Palace's threat decreased with Jason Puncheon and Zaha having to go off injured in the second half before QPR finally showed the kind of application which had been lacking for most of the game.

Home keeper Julian Speroni had been a virtual spectator before Phillips sent a dipping 40-yard shot into his top corner for an impressive goal.

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew: "Steve Coppell would be proud. We are famous for wingers here and there was none better than Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha today.

"I've been being the nasty teacher to them this week telling them to get in the box.

"I just thought we were very good. We were unlucky in the second half as we lost Jason Puncheon and Zaha.

"I don't think I have ever seen a better goal than we have seen (from Matt Phillips) at this place. Ironically, it was from the opposition. That was a special goal."

QPR manager Chris Ramsey: "The first-half key moments really put us on the back foot and the way we defended was really disappointing. It killed the game before we could get into it.

"It wasn't about protection for the defence. What we needed to do was to track the runners.

"Sometimes it's over by the time you begin getting back in the game.

"In the first-half our play wasn't horrendous but we struggled in the key moments. All the players have come off disappointed knowing we let ourselves down in the key moments.

"We knew it was a mammoth task to stay up. We are now relying on other people which you don't want to do. But, until we get to a mathematical point where we can't survive we are going to keep going."

Wilfried Zaha had gone 18 games without a goal or assist in the Premier League before this game

The Eagles scored three goals before the break for the first time ever in a Premier League match

QPR did not manage a shot on target until a header from Charlie Austin (left) in the 72nd minute