Last updated on .From the section Championship

Jordan Hugill beats the Stoke defence to slot home QPR's opening goal

Jordan Hugill's debut strike and Eberechi Eze's fine solo goal downed Stoke to give Mark Warburton a winning start to life as QPR manager.

Hugill, signed on loan from West Ham last week, steered QPR ahead from close range early on after England goalkeeper Jack Butland's decision to rush out and challenge Bright Osayi-Samuel went awry.

Eze sauntered through a static Stoke defence to double Rangers' lead after the interval.

Stoke pulled one back when Sam Clucas fired home from close range but the Potters have now won just four of their 22 matches since manager Nathan Jones took charge in January.

Lee Gregory - one of several Stoke summer signings on show - set up Clucas' consolation goal but, for the most part, their other arrivals failed to make an impact.

Nick Powell sliced one half-volley wide but it was Rangers who boasted the bigger goal threat and Josh Scowen passed up two great opportunities to make their margin of victory more comfortable.

The introductions of Tom Ince, Gregory and Tyrese Campbell from the bench sparked a Stoke improvement but Danny Batth wasted their best chance of a scarcely-deserved equaliser by heading wide in stoppage time.

Huge season ahead for Hugill?

While Stoke's worries over a lack of goals - just 18 in Jones' 22 games as manager - continue, QPR will hope they have found a man who can carry the burden of finding the net for them this season.

Hugill has struggled to live up to expectations since West Ham reportedly paid £10m to take him from Preston 18 months ago and has been limited to three substitute appearances for the Hammers.

He only scored seven times in 41 games on loan with hometown club Middlesbrough last season but will hope a similar season-long arrangement in the capital will bear fruit.

The 27-year-old looked bright throughout his Hoops debut and was in the right place at the right time to put the visitors ahead.

Judging from the lively performances of Osayi-Samuel - whose run led to Butland's error - and Eze, there will be no shortage of a supply line for the 6ft striker in west London this season.

The trio helped QPR record a first opening-day away win in more than 30 years - 1987 was the last time they won a curtain-raiser on their travels, having drawn six and lost seven of their 13 attempts since.

Stoke boss Nathan Jones:

"We did not look like a home side who wanted to go after them and we lacked the tempo. We have to play with more urgency and cutting edge, and too many players didn't have the desire.

"We were better in the second half and had more hunger, but you cannot chase the game like that, this league is too tough. We take positives from the last 30 minutes, but overall it is a disappointing performance.

"We need more instinct and more cutting edge. We were not on the move for crosses and we were waiting for things to happen."

QPR manager Mark Warburton:

"We have got some good young players - they just need some belief at how good they can be, and that will come with confidence.

"It is really pleasing to get the win. This is a tough place to come and it is a squad full of Premier League players.

"The dynamic changed after Stoke's goal, but I thought we dealt with it well and the players, to a man, stood up to it."