Sunderland put themselves four points clear at the top of the Championship, after Grant Leadbitter's second goal of the week earned us a hard-fought win over QPR.

The customary team changes saw Dean Whitehead, Ross Wallace and Daryl Murphy come in for Liam Miller, Tobias Hysen and Stephen Elliott, with only Elliott staying in the matchday squad of 16. Sunderland started well against the Londoners, with Murphy trying to get a shot in on goal in the opening minute, before Dwight Yorke fired wide from the edge of the area.

Sunderland took the lead after just six minutes, when a long ball from David Connolly found Dean Whitehead, who ran with the ball before putting a low shot underneath Lee Camp to give us a great start to the game. After that, we kept control of the game, but our play began to look a little over-confident, as we consistently went for long diagonal passes - a tactic that the QPR defence quickly adapted themselves to.

QPR rarely went forward, but they ironically scored with their first real chance, and it came from the penalty spot. Darren Ward brought down Dexter Blackstock in the box after some suicidal defending from Danny Simpson, allowing Martin Rowlands to pick himself up and take the spot kick to level the score.

After conceding the equaliser, Sunderland looked to regain composure, and they almost regained the lead when Damion Stewart's attempted clearance at Carlos Edwards' cross went just inches away from going into his own net. Moments later, Ross Wallace's run into the box resulted in a shot that rebounded to David Connolly, whose overhead kick attempt went awry as we tried to claim a penalty for a handball by Stewart.

Daryl Murphy spurned a great chance on 36 minutes when he sliced a shot well off target following some good play from Connolly, before Sam Timoska had to head away Dean Whitehead's effort from Edwards' cross. Whitehead had two more efforts as the first half came to a close.

The second half started off slowly, with Sunderland taking their time to get back into the swing of things. Murphy sent a cross straight at Lee Camp, before half-time substitute Stern John joined David Connolly in missing a string of chances in the penalty area. QPR wouldn't let us settle, and their defensive formation looked set to frustrate us as the visitors tried to hold on for a draw without creating too much in the way of attacking play.

As the near-40,000 crowd grew restless, Sunderland did regain the lead, with 15 minutes left on the clock, as Carlos Edwards took a quick free kick to Grant Leadbitter, who smacked the ball into the top corner (once again) from 25 yards out for his seventh goal of the season. Despite being a goal down, QPR tried to waste time, with Adam Bolder and then sub Paul Furlong taking free kicks from around the edge of the penalty area, neither of which troubled Darren Ward too much.

In the end, Sunderland could have extended their lead through Edwards and Connolly, but Leadbitter's goal proved to be enough to register a fifth successive win - which moved us four points clear at the top, with three games left to play. It's getting closer!

Sunderland: Ward, Simpson, Collins, Nosworthy, Evans, Edwards, Wallace (sub 46, John), Yorke (sub 60, Leadbitter), Whitehead, Connolly, Murphy (sub 76, Stokes). Subs: Fulop, Elliott.

QPR: Camp, Bignot, Cullip (sub 42, Kanyuka), Stewart, Timoska, Bolder, Rowlands, Lomas (sub 82, Idiakez), Smith, Moore (sub 68, Furlong), Blackstock. Subs: Cole, Nygaard.