West Brom 1 QPR 4 - Report and pictures

Fine goals from Eduardo Vargas and Bobby Zamora either side of a Charlie Austin header punished Albion's slack defending and gave the visitors an unlikely 3-0 half-time lead.

The Baggies had chances but Brown Ideye spurned their best opportunities.

They improved after half-time and reduced the arrears through substitute Victor Anichebe on 58 minutes.

But they could not make any further headway and substitute Youssouf Mulumbu was sent off for an elbow on Joey Barton just 11 minutes after entering the fray and Barton added a fourth goal for the visitors in stoppage time.

Albion started brightly and they might have taken an early lead when Chris Brunt advanced down the left and crossed for Brown Ideye, whose looping header was too close to visiting keeper Robert Green.

Matty Phillips curled a 20-yard free-kick straight at Albion keeper Boaz Myhill but the home side continued to make the running and Ideye had another opportunity when he headed over at the far post from a cross by Darren Fletcher.

However, it was the visitors who went ahead on 16 minutes when Albion's defenders were guilty of backing off.

They allowed Vargas time to collect Austin's header and let fly with a 25-yard effort that nestled into the bottom corner.

Ideye had another opportunity to net for the Baggies when they put together a neat passing move and a cross by Baird was touched by Saido Berahino into the path of his strike partner, who poked a difficult chance wide.

However, Albion lost their way and Rangers doubled their lead on 37 minutes.

Phillips delivered a dangerous corner from the right, substitute Niko Kranjcar flicked it on and Austin stooped to nod home from close range.

And it got worse for the Baggies six minutes later.

Phillips played a ball forward to Zamora, who beat Joleon Lescott for pace before producing a sublime chip with outside of his left boot that looped over a stranged Myhill and into the net.

The Baggies looked more purposeful at the start of the second half with substitute Anichebe the field.

And his lay-off provided a great early chance for Craig Gardner, who side-footed tamely at Green.

Austin volleyed straight at Myhill with a decent chance for the visitors but Albion threw themselves a lifeline on 58 minutes.

Chris Brunt's fantastic pass released Berahino, whose cross from the left was headed in by Anichebe.

Things might have got even better when Ideye seized on an Anichebe knock-down and his deflected shot was saved by Green.

And Ideye then tried his luck with a long-range volley that gave Green an easier save.

The chances kept coming for the Baggies, who should have pulled another goal back when Ideye headed a Brunt cross to Berahino, whose header was straight at Green.

And Ideye then sent a header wide of the near post from a Brunt cross.

Any hope of an Albion comeback was ended on 83 minutes, however, by Mulumbu's red card.

He contested a high ball with Barton and floored the QPR captain with an elbow which referee Lee Probert ruled was violent conduct.

Barton then rubbed salt into the wounds when he seized on more hesitant defending after a Rangers break and drilled a shot past Myhill.