Stoke 1-0 QPR

Charlie Adam scored a second-half
winner, his first goal for Stoke, to heap
further pressure on QPR manager
Mark Hughes after a 1-0 defeat.
The R's had not won away in the
Premier League since beating City 3-2
at the Britannia Stadium last season
and remained winless this term in 11
games after Adam's 52nd-minute
strike.
Clear-cut chances were at a premium
until Robert Huth launched a long free-
kick for Jonathan Walters to head on to
Peter Crouch after the break.
Crouch failed to get a meaningful
touch on the ball but glanced it for
Adam to half-volley home the only goal
of a tense encounter at the back post.
Winger Matthew Etherington had been
named in the Potters' starting line-up
for the first time since the opening day
of the campaign - and Ireland
midfielder Glenn Whelan joined him in
returning in front of the biggest home
attendance of the season at 27,529.
England defender Ryan Shawcross was
soon on hand to cut out Esteban
Granero's cross for Djibril Cisse early
on while the recalled Rangers
midfielder Alejandro Faurlin also tried
his luck from distance.
Stoke's Walters then blasted into the
crowd after finding himself unmarked
while Julio Cesar punched clear an
Etherington free-kick under severe
pressure.
Midfielder Steven Nzonzi picked out
Crouch in the middle but the England
forward's effort was deflected just
wide of the target while Cisse and
Junior Hoilett combined at the other
end to set up Adel Taraabt.
The Morocco forward badly fluffed his
chipped attempt but went closer a
minute later and just before the
interval when his side-footed effort
was just wide of Asmir Begovic's far-
post.
Scotland midfielder Adam gleefully put
the hosts ahead seven minutes after
the restart, from an aerial Stoke set-
piece, but Taarabt almost levelled the
match immediately with a deflected
right-footed effort forcing Begovic to
turn the ball over the bar.
The Moroccan twice dragged the ball
across goal from useful positions but
he did better in the 70th minute to set
up Granero, whose strike brought a
fine save out of Bosnian Begovic.
Substitute Michael Kightly could have
sealed a certain three points near the
end but the winger's strike was well
saved by Cesar after fellow sub
Kenwyne Jones had beaten the offside
trap to pull a neat ball back to him.