Stoke eases relegation fears by beating doomed QPR

Stoke took a giant step toward survival in the Premier League by beating Queens Park Rangers 2-0 on Saturday, with goals by Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters inching the home side to the brink of relegation.

Crouch tapped in the opener from close range in the 42nd minute for only his second goal since September, before Walters converted a retaken penalty into the corner in the 77th after Crouch was fouled by Clint Hill.

QPR could be relegated despite still having four games left if fourth-bottom Aston Villa beat Manchester United on Monday.

Stoke, meanwhile, ended a seven-game winless run to move six points clear of Wigan, which occupies the final relegation place.