Charlton Athletic suffered a second-straight defeat and are just one place outside the Championship relegation zone after a 1-0 loss at QPR on Saturday.

After winning their two previous league games on the road, the Addicks were beaten by a 30-yard thunderbolt from QPR striker Charlie Austin five minutes before the break.

The hosts had dominated possession without creating many chances until Austin’s fine strike found the corner of Ben Hamer’s net.

Rangers bossed much of the second half too and Hamer did well to tip away a free-kick from Joey Barton and got down well to block a low drive from 20 yards from Shaun Wright-Phillips, to add to saves from Gary O’Neil, Matt Phillips and Austin.

Austin spurned the chance of his second, skewing his shot from 15 yards after good work from Andy Johnson before the Hoops went close to a second late-on when Wright-Phillips hit the bar with a curling shot which beat Hamer.

The closest Charlton came was a long-range strike from Jordan Cousins which was easily saved by Rob Green and a wayward Johnnie Jackson free-kick late-on.

The defeat left Charlton two points and two places behind Doncaster Rovers, who visit the Valley on Tuesday night.