Stoke City 0-2 Queens Park Rangers: Charlie Austin and Osman Kakay goals see off poor Potters
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Charlie Austin scored only his second goal in 10 games against Stoke City
A goal in each half from Charlie Austin and Osman Kakay gave Queens Park Rangers a comfortable win over a disappointing Stoke City.
Austin produced a clinical finish after a defensive lapse from the Potters to put the visitors ahead after 17 minutes for his seventh goal of the season.
Stoke, who lost returning top-scorer Nick Powell to another injury early on, failed to mount any serious threat on the QPR goal despite having plenty of crosses and nine corners.
Although the hosts improved after the break, Kakay finished off a sweeping counter-attack to snuff out any hope of a comeback and seal a third straight away win.
Stoke were hoping the return of Powell from an Achilles injury would help them end a five-game winless run stretching back to the start of April, but the midfielder was forced to hobble off after only 12 minutes.
The home side were rattled five minutes later when Lyndon Dykes caught Harry Souter in possession attempting to walk the ball out of defence, and Dykes teed up Austin to drill the ball into the far corner from 20 yards.
On-loan winger Rabbi Matondo was Stoke's brightest player, sending a dipping volley just over the bar after substitute Jordan Thompson's 25-yard drive was looped into his path, before lashing a drive into the side-netting.
QPR were content to sit back and soak up the Potters' pressure in the second half and killed the game off with a fine counter-attack 20 minutes from time when Kakay coolly swept home Stefan Johansen's through-ball.
John Obi Mikel sent a free header wide from 10 yards before substitute Sam Vokes then skied an effort over from close range late on to sum up Stoke's lack of punch up front.
Stoke manager Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:
"It was a big blow to lose Nick Powell so early in the game, but we still should've done more to create opportunities - our play let us down at times.
"We had 47 crosses, but only 10 seemed to be of a high enough standard and I'm not even sure there was 10 to be honest.
"Ultimately it's in the final third of the pitch that we're lacking and we'll try to bring players into the club in the summer that can help us in that area."
QPR assistant manager John Eustace said:
"It was a professional win at a tough place - I know how hard it is to win here and full credit to the lads, they were fantastic.
"We have got some fantastic senior players and good exciting younger players.
"The players are ready to throw their bodies on the line and we have a really strong group.
"Osman (Kakay) has had a good season and you can see what his goal meant to him and the rest of the players, including those on the sidelines."