Sunderland 2 QPR 1:QPR failed to halt Sunderland's charge towards the Premiership with substitute Grant Leadbitter netting the winner for Roy Keane's side in the 76th minute.

Rangers had battled gamely until that point and Martin Rowlands' 23rd-minute penalty, cancelling out Dean Whitehead's early opener, looked to have denied the Coca-Cola Championship leaders victory.

But Keane's men have now won 14 of their 17 league encounters since the turn of the year and must be rated as favourites to go up as champions.

It is worth remembering that Sunderland were relegated last season as the worst team in the history of the Premiership with a dismal tally of just 15 points.

Even one month into the current campaign they were facing the grim prospect of relegation to League One after five straight defeats left them second bottom of the Championship.

Then Keane arrived last August and quickly stopped the rot.

He has recreated belief and presided over a renaissance on Wearside, which will be complete once the #50million ticket to the Premiership is confirmed.

Rangers arrived at the Stadium of Light on the back of three straight wins but they quickly came under the cosh as David Connolly's clever running had them stretched.

He played a low ball across the face of goal in the second minute and then teed up Dwight Yorke for a shooting chance which the Tobagan blazed wildly over the crossbar.

However, in the seventh minute Sunderland led courtesy of a outstanding team goal which cut Rangers apart.

Defender Nyron Nosworthy found Connolly with a neat pass and he showed astute awareness to spot Whitehead's surging run deep into Rangers territory.

His defence-splitting pass was timed to perfection and was collected by Whitehead who outpaced Marcus Bignot and slipped a low shot past Lee Camp from 14 yards.

Carlos Edwards then crossed from the right and Daryl Murphy somehow headed wide when it looked easier to score.

Rangers had shown no semblance of attacking threat and their 23rd-minute equaliser was a bolt out of the blue.

Dexter Blackstock latched on to an innocuous deflection and suddenly found himself in a race for the ball with Sunderland goalkeeper Darren Ward.

Ward's clumsy challenge earned Rangers a penalty which Rowlands tucked away neatly but there was not even a yellow card for the home goalkeeper.

The goal injected Rangers with confidence and Sunderland's momentum stalled, although they still had a couple of half chances which were spurned.

Keane replaced the injured Ross Wallace with Stern John at the break and Sunderland upped the tempo immediately after the restart.

Connolly cut inside three defenders and saw his shot blocked before John's cross-shot flew agonisingly across the face of goal.

However, Sunderland continued to probe and with 14 minutes remaining the winner arrived.

Rangers substitute Paul Furlong fouled Jonny Evans and Edwards played the resultant free-kick back to Leadbitter.

He was unmarked 25 yards from goal and struck a low shot which flew into the net to ensure Sunderland have one foot in the Premiership.