QPR 1 West Ham 2:MARK HUGHES' strugglers remained rooted at the bottom of the Premier League after a pulsating match, continuing the QPR manager's dismal times since taking the reins at Loftus Road.

Despite a spirited fightback by the home side – reduced to 10 men in the second half – West Ham United consolidated their position in the top half of the Premier League table with their first away win of the season.

First-half goals from record signing Matt Jarvis, bought from Wolverhampton Wanderers for €13 million, and Ricardo Vaz Te sealed West Ham’s victory over their London rivals.

Jarvis’s first goal, a neatly-taken header past the despairing dive of former Inter Milan and Champions League-winning goalkeeper Julio Cesar, stunned the home side who are still winless and with just two points from six games.

Vaz Te made it 2-0 with a crafty volley at the far post after a corner was scrambled away by QPR who rallied in the second half courtesy of an unstoppable looping shot by Adel Taarabt on 57 minutes.

Their charge was halted by the sending off of substitute Samba Diakite 15 minutes from time following two swift yellow cards and West Ham moved to 11 points, five behind leaders Chelsea and level with Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion.

QPR: Julio Cesar, Hill, Nelsen, Mbia, Onuoha (Hoilett 84), Wright-Phillips (Taarabt 56), Granero, Faurlin, Park (Diakite 55), Zamora, Cisse. Subs not used: Green, Mackie, Ephraim, Ehmer. Sent off: Diakite (75). Booked: Taarabt, Diakite.

WEST HAM UTD: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid (Tomkins 23), Collins, O’Brien (McCartney 35), Noble, Diame, Vaz Te, Nolan, Jarvis, Cole (Carroll 72). Subs not used: Henderson, Maiga, Benayoun, O’Neil. Booked: Diame, Noble, McCartney, Jaaskelainen, Nolan, Cole, Collins, Tomkins.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne Wear).