Djibril Cisse scored a dramatic late winner as Queens Park Rangers beat Stoke City 1-0 on Sunday.

It was the home side who started the better and they might have led after just four minutes with an effort from Adel Taarabt, but it drifted wide of the post.

Joey Barton had an effort of his own for the R's after 11 minutes, but his strike from close range was beaten away by Potters goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

Stoke were next to come close, via Ryan Shawcross after 14 minutes, but his effort from inside the box was high of the crossbar.

Taarabt continued to impress in the early stages, and he might have opened the scoring but for a Shawcross block after 23 minutes.

QPR continued to dominate the opening half, with Barton and Taarabt both coming close on the 30-minute mark in the match.

The home side continued to press for the opener in the latter stages of the half, but Stoke stood strong to leave the score level at the break.

The first chance of the second period fell to the away side, via Peter Crouch, but he headed wide of the target.

Chances continued to fall for Stoke, and Ricardo Fuller might have done better with an effort after 50 minutes.

QPR introduced Cisse for the second period, and he came close with an effort after 55 minutes, but it drifted wide.

Taarabt again came close after 67 minutes, but he fired wide, before Taye Taiwo's shot was blocked by Robert Huth.

Barton and Taarabt continued to provide the threat for QPR in the latter stages, while Cisse tested Sorensen with little over 10 minutes remaining.

Stoke had a golden chance to take all three points after 88 minutes when Jonathan Walters found himself in the box, but Anton Ferdinand cleared the danger.

There was to be one last effort, however, and it came to Cisse who tapped home from close range to move the club out of the relegation zone ahead of next week's trip to Manchester City.