Report and pictures of QPR 2 Aston Villa 0

Lambert has now presided over the worst run in the club's history and they now sit just two points clear of the Premier League drop zone.

Rangers took the lead against the run of play when Bobby Zamora laid the ball off for Austin to lash home from the edge of the area in the 17th minute.

The hosts secured victory midway through the second half when Eduardo Vargas raced down the right and crossed for Austin to finish at the near post.

Having proved the architects of their own downfall with two own goals in the recent defeat to Liverpool, Rangers came out on top at Loftus Road in a game against a Villa outfit bereft of confidence.

When Austin struck a sweet half-volley in the first half the writing was already on the wall for Lambert's visitors.

They have now gone over eight hours since scoring a goal, with another predatory finish the other side of the interval securing what could be a vital 2-0 win.

They may have faced Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton in recent weeks - with an 11-0 aggregate reverse scoreline.

But these sorts of evenings need to produce results if Villa are to stay clear of the pack squabbling at the foot of the table.

For Harry Redknapp and QPR, this was a much-needed second win of the campaign.

It lifts them above fellow newly-promoted side Burnley and to within two points of 17th-placed Leicester, as the 67-year-old continues to face questions about his future.

As well as Austin's two efforts, Redknapp would have been pleased with the developing link-up play his goalscorer is enjoying with the industrious Zamora.

The league's worst defence also kept just their second clean sheet of the campaign, with Rio Ferdinand again an unused substitute.

Ciaran Clark was brought back into the Villans' defence but he wasted their best chance to grab just their fifth league goal of the season.

Five defeats in succession leaving Villa only three points clear of their Monday night hosts.