QPR 0-3 Sunderland: Player Ratings as Black Cats run riot

Who impressed the most as Sunderland thrashed QPR at Loftus Road?

Sunderland once again asserted their Championship play-off credentials with a fine performance against QPR. 

The Black Cats took a little time to get into the game but after the first 20 minutes there was only one team in it. 

Luke O'Nien scored the opener from close range after pouncing on a goalkeeper error, and it was the least Sunderland deserved. 

They looked to have let the opportunity slip by when Aji Alese gave away a penalty against the run of play on the second half, but Anthony Patterson rescued Sunderland with a brilliant save. 

As the game opened up, Jack Clarke was able to help himself to a late brace to add the gloss the Sunderland performance deserved. 

Here is how the players rated. 

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Sunderland player ratings vs QPR

Antony Patterson - Made his third penalty save of the season. What's the record in the championship? It was a brilliant save which completely defined the way the game played out. Aside from that he claimed everything which came into the box. Excellent. 8

Trai Hume - Always seems to have so much time on the ball. Such a crisp, composed passer of the ball. His leap is also remarkable. Now without doubt our starting right back when all fit. WHAT A SIGNING. 8

Danny Batth - QPR didn't really carve any serious chances, Batth and Ballard thwarting Martin and Lowe between them. 7

Dan Ballard - Great yet again. No apparent weakness in his game. 8

Aji Alese - Aside from giving away a penalty, which is quite a big aside, he did really well. His ability to get up and down the pitch has been amazing all season, but his decision making and final ball now look to be improving. 7

Luke O'Nien - The jury is still out on whether he can play in midfield, but on this evidence he's very useful. Snapped about, being aggressive, winding up the opposition, and distributing the ball intelligently when he had it. Scored a beautifully scrappy opener too. 8

Abdoullah Ba - Seems to particularly thrive when he doesn't have too much time to think. He's such a gifted footballer. It's only a matter of time before he becomes a key player for us. 7

Jack Clarke - There's a reason Mowbray keeps on playing him, despite ebbs and flows in form. He puts in such a shift, and his directness and speed mean he's always a threat. 8 goals and 7 assists at this point in the season is superb whichever way you look at it. 8

Alex Pritchard - Playing slightly deeper, as he did today, really adds something to the team. His 360 degree vision and ability to play the ball on both feet mean we can find our way out of tight spaces with short, sharp passing. 7

Patrick Roberts - For the first twenty or so minutes of a game, he often feels like he's adjusting to the speed of the match. Then something clicks and he's a class above. I said a few weeks ago that Amad was one of the most enjoyable players I'd ever seen in a Sunderland shirt. Roberts is too. 8

Joe Gelhardt - The best performance we've seen from him so far. Pressed tenaciously and looked tidy on the ball. I'm not convinced he's a 'striker' as most of us would understand the word, but he's another good technical player to go with our ever-growing collection. 7 

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SUBS

Amad Diallo- He came on the pitch and instantly oozed class. As well as those who started today did, he'll start and, hopefully be fresh, on Saturday. 7

Dan Neil - Actually not as tidy as he has been of late. Still got forward and picked out Clarke excellently for the third. The risk of resting him and Amad paid off! 7

Pierre Ekwah - Played an excellent ball through for Amad which he should perhaps have scored from. Looks like he's integrating very nicely. 7

Dennis Cirkin - Did brilliantly for Clarke's first goal. How do we get Cirkin and Alese in the same team is the question. 7

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Player of the Match - Trai Hume - What a player.