Match ends, Stoke City 1, Queens Park Rangers 0.
Stoke edged fellow strugglers QPR to end a four-match losing run and put a little daylight between themselves and the Championship relegation zone.
After a turgid opening, Stoke came to life and went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Luke McNally flicked on Lewis Baker's in-swinging corner and captain Wouter Burger tapped in at the far post.
Rangers tried to respond after the break, but failed to land a second-half attempt on target as their unbeaten four-match run came to a subdued end.
The Potters had won just two of their previous 17 league matches, but held on to secure a first victory at the Bet365 Stadium since October.
Victory in this basement battle moved Steven Schumacher's side six points clear of the Hoops who are third bottom after a ninth away league defeat of the campaign.
QPR went closest in a quiet opening half hour when the returning Paul Smyth's clean strike forced Potters keeper Daniel Iversen into a smart save.
Stoke had scored just two goals in their previous eight league matches on home turf, but finally sparked into life when Michael Rose's header from Baker's corner forced Rs keeper Asmir Begovic into an acrobatic stop.
Begovic then turned away Burger's fierce strike and held Niall Ennis' long-range attempt before the skipper struck in stoppage-time.
QPR had scored seven times in their four previous games and responded positively after the break, but they failed to force Iversen into another save and it was Stoke who carried the greater threat.
The Hoops defence blocked three chances in quick succession before Begovic held Baker's long-range effort, and Lynden Gooch drove into the box before firing over.
Stoke City boss Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Stoke:
"It was a huge game - we knew we were coming up against a team who are very close to us in the league table so it was important for us to get a positive result, and most importantly to get a win at home which has been a long time coming.
"We had to defend well in the second half. It wasn't the best game of football to ever watch, but at this stage of the season that doesn't really matter, the result is all that counts.
"We built up a bit of momentum just before half-time and I'm really pleased to score a goal from a set-play.
"If it has to be a battle in the run-in then so be it. If we can play nice football where we can, then great, but results are all that count."
QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes told BBC Radio London:
"In the first half we got two good chances to take the lead and unfortunately the reality is that from a corner we shouldn't concede, they score a goal that is definitive.
"In the second half we adjusted a few things, the team really tried to create chances. We got much more dominance over the last 45 minutes, but still we missed that bit of quality in the last third.
"Today we definitely didn't find the flow that we wanted. Stoke played much lower than they normally do, much more narrow and compact and was not easy for us to beat.
"I said before the game this will not be a season-changer. We need to keep on working, to try and get the points we need."
Line-ups
Stoke
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Iversen
- 17Hoever
- 23McNally
- 5Rose
- 15Thompson
- 25CundleSubstituted forLérisat 89'minutes
- 6BurgerSubstituted forPearsonat 75'minutes
- 8Baker
- 24TchamadeuSubstituted forGoochat 81'minutes
- 14EnnisSubstituted forWesleyat 74'minutes
- 22BaeSubstituted forLaurentat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Gooch
- 4Pearson
- 10Campbell
- 13Bonham
- 16Wilmot
- 18Wesley
- 27Léris
- 28Laurent
- 42Manhoef
QPR
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Begovic
- 20Cannon
- 5S Cook
- 6Clarke-SalterSubstituted forDykesat 85'minutes
- 22Paal
- 4ColbackSubstituted forWillockat 78'minutes
- 14HaydenBooked at 64minsSubstituted forFieldat 85'minutes
- 11SmythSubstituted forAndersenat 67'minutes
- 16Hodge
- 10Chair
- 30ArmstrongSubstituted forFreyat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Dunne
- 7Willock
- 8Field
- 9Dykes
- 12Frey
- 13Archer
- 15Fox
- 19Dixon-Bonner
- 25Andersen
- Referee:
- Andrew Kitchen
- Attendance:
- 19,307
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Stoke City 1, Queens Park Rangers 0.
Post update
Steve Cook (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ben Pearson (Stoke City).
Post update
Foul by Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Wesley (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Sam Field.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Michael Frey (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ilias Chair with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Luke McNally.
Post update
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Ki-Jana Hoever.
Post update
Kenneth Paal (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Mehdi Léris (Stoke City).
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Mehdi Léris replaces Luke Cundle.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kenneth Paal.
Post update
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Michael Rose.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lewis Baker (Stoke City) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Lyndon Dykes replaces Jake Clarke-Salter.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Sam Field replaces Isaac Hayden.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lynden Gooch (Stoke City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Lewis Baker.
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Lynden Gooch replaces Junior Tchamadeu.
Comments
Join the conversation
Get us through this season SS and then try to make something of the bizarre squad you have inherited.
So after Sunderland just laying down …rolling over & gifting Huddersfield 3 easy points tonight ……….& after witnessing tonight’s toothless ‘debacle’ - I’d say we are doomed for Lge 1 ……
Are Plymouth really that small?
Two more defeats and Rs have had it.