Premier League: QPR 2 Sunderland 3

Wes Brown’s 89th-minute winner has given Sunderland a 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Wednesday.

Martin O’Neill’s side took the lead after 19 minutes through Nicklas Bendtner, and Stephane Sessegnon doubled their advantage early in the second half after a mistake by QPR defender Danny Gabbidon.

Heidar Helguson pulled one back for the home side just past the hour mark and they equalised through Jamie Mackie after 67 minutes.

With the game looking likely to end in a draw, Brown headed home from a Kieran Richardson corner to give O’Neill’s team their second win from his three games at the helm.

The game started at a fast pace and QPR defender Armand Traore came close early on when he fired a shot wide of Keiren Westwood’s goal in the first minute.

Despite the home side’s bright start, Sunderland came agonisingly close to taking the lead after 15 minutes.

Sebastian Larsson whipped in a free kick from the left and when John O’Shea flicked the ball on, Bendtner’s header came off the post.

Sunderland did make the breakthrough moments later when Bendtner headed home Kieran Richardson’s corner.

The Danish international, on his return from injury, found himself unmarked to score his third goal of the season since joining on loan from Arsenal.

Sunderland were looking comfortable and despite having to deal with a number of Joey Barton free kicks, they still looked like the greater threat on the break.

Sessegnon came close to adding a second for the visitors before the interval when his curling shot was deflected over the bar by Matthew Connolly after a fine solo run.

Neil Warnock made a change at half time by introducing Adel Taarabt to the action but it was Sunderland who started the second half stronger and they doubled their lead through Sessegnon in the 52nd minute.

Gabbidon misjudged a header back to his goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, allowing Sessegnon to race on to the loose ball before rounding Kenny and slotting home.

QPR desperately needed something to get back into the game and 10 minutes later Helguson got on the end Alejandro Faurlin’s cross to spark them back into life.

Things got even better for the home side just four minutes later when Mackie headed home the equaliser.

Traore put over a cross from the left and when Helguson knocked the ball back across goal, Mackie was on hand to score his first goal since his return from a broken leg.

Despite losing a two goal lead, Sunderland still looked the more likely to win and Bendtner should have scored his second goal of the game in the 82nd minute when he put a free header over the bar after finding himself unmarked at a corner.

Phillip Bardsley’s fine run and shot forced Kenny into a flying save but just as the game looked like ending in a draw, the away side grabbed the winner when Richardson whipped in another dangerous corner and Brown powered home a header.

The referee’s assistant signalled for an additional six minutes of injury time, and Sunderland could have added to their three goals as Sessegnon tested Kenny.

Barton fired a deflected shot wide in injury time but it was too late for QPR as Sunderland held on to record the win and move above their hosts on the table.