Jonathan Walters' hat-trick secured the win for Mark Hughes' side as the
visitors capitulated to an 11th consecutive top-flight defeat away from home this
term.
Mistakes from Karl Henry and Eduardo Vargas gifted Stoke goals in the opening 45
minutes, with Walters converting twice before Niko Kranjcar pulled a goal back.
An injury to captain Ryan Shawcross blighted the first half for the hosts and they
struggled to find their momentum after the break.
QPR failed to take advantage, though, with Asmir Begovic only called into action
once, the goalkeeper saving well from Vargas' acrobatic volley just before the hour.
Joey Barton was denied a late leveller when his free-kick rattled the crossbar, but
the day belonged to Walters as he netted a third to move Stoke into ninth place in
the table, while QPR missed the chance to climb out of the bottom three.
Stoke had the better of possession in a scrappy opening 20 minutes, but it was an
error from Henry that enabled Hughes' side to break the deadlock.
The midfielder allowed the ball to run away from him and Stephen Ireland – in for
the injured Bojan Krkic – was quick to pounce and play Walters in with a
sumptuous backheel, with the striker making no mistake.
Victor Moses almost doubled their lead three minutes later with a superb free-kick
that flew narrowly wide of Robert Green's right-hand post.
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