Championship: QPR 3 Sheffield United 0

Queens Park Rangers extended their lead atop the English Championship to nine points after a comfortable 3-0 win over Sheffield United.

Goals from Wayne Routledge either side of an Alejandro Faurlin screamer maintained the huge gap at the top, while United are seven points away from safety.

Despite the visitors appearing to be settle in at Loftus Road, Routledge opened the scoring after some poor defending.

Heidar Helguson put in a cross from right and the 26-year-old midfielder was left unmarked, sweeping home a cool finish.

Faurlin gave former United manager Neil Warnock’s side breathing space seven minutes after the interval with a delightful strike.

The Blades cleared their lines after a Hoops corner, but Faurlin was waiting outside the area to strike a sweet left-footed shot past Steve Simonsen.

Routledge completed his brace in the 66th minute after receiving another pass from Helguson, but this time he buried his shot across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

He should have completed his hat-trick shortly before full-time but for a brilliant reflex save from Simonsen.

Time is quickly running out for the Blades to escape relegation, while QPR continue their run that has seen them lose just one of their last 14 outings.