Queens Park Rangers 0-3 Sunderland: O'Nien and Clarke give Black Cats win
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Ilias Chair had his second-half penalty saved by Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson, with the visitors leading 1-0
Anthony Patterson's brilliant save from an Ilias Chair penalty was pivotal as Sunderland beat QPR to reclaim a top-six place in the Championship.
The home-grown keeper somehow kicked away the spot-kick, placed down the middle as he dived full-length to his left, to preserve the visitors' 1-0 lead, given to them by midfielder Luke O'Nien.
O'Nien had bundled the ball home after Rangers keeper Seny Dieng had fumbled Dan Ballard's header from a corner.
Jack Clarke made sure of the points with two more goals in the last 10 minutes as Sunderland counter-attacked Rangers' ineffective attempts to get back into the game.
Rangers, who have now won one of their last 16 league games in an alarming slide down the table, were booed off, increasing the pressure on manager Neil Critchley, who has supervised just one win in his 11 games in charge.
Rangers had started well enough as they sought to end a slide that has seen them go from top spot in October to 16th before the game, penning the north-east side back, with Jamal Lowe curling a shot inches wide.
Sunderland gave notice that they were a real threat on the break as Joe Gelhardt sprinted in behind the home defence and fired into the side netting.
Patrick Roberts, after scoring the winner against Reading at the weekend, brought a brilliant save from Dieng after he was set up by Abdoullah Ba's backheel.
From the resulting corner, Ballard's header was parried and then fumbled by the Rangers keeper as he tried to grab the ball, and O'Nien snapped up the gift.
Rangers seemed to have been given a lifeline when Aji Alese flung up an arm as he contested a corner, and punched the ball away. Chair struck his spot-kick centrally and Patterson, throwing himself to his left, somehow stretched his right leg back and volleyed away the shot.
With Rangers pressing, without too much conviction, Sunderland repeatedly hit them with counter-attacks, and after Gelhardt had hit the bar in one attack, Clarke weaved in from the left to fire low into the far corner.
The winger made sure in added time, coming inside to finish off another breakaway, led by Pierre Ekwah and Dan Neil down the right.
QPR boss Neil Critchley:
"I believe in my own ability to get the best out of this group of players.
"I didn't see a team that wasn't together or fighting tonight. I saw the players having a go. But it's mistakes that are killing us. Sloppy goals are killing us. I didn't see a team that had given up or lacked heart or desire.
"I'd be lying if I said I was enjoying the situation and the run we're on.
"But you know what you sign up for when you take the job as a manager. It's a tough moment but you have to roll your sleeves up and fight.
"If you ask any coach what they need, it's always time. I know what I want to do and how I want to do it. I have to find a way to get the best out of these players."
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle:
"It took us a bit of time to understand the system. They're a good football team that build out really well and work the numbers, but they do leave their centre halves really exposed so we tried to play with pace on the outside of them.
"It took a little bit of time for everybody to understand their roles but by the end of the game we were breaking away at will and could have scored more.
"I have to mention the goalie, he is amazing. The penalty save, but also his aerial stuff and catching balls in the box.
"I'm amazed how many people watch this football club away from home and it's great when we can give them a performance and a victory like tonight."