Billy Sharp's hat-trick helped Sheffield United cruise to a 3-0 win over sorry QPR at Bramall Lane.

Sharp endured a difficult time in front of goal last season but he revelled in the space afforded to him by the visitors' lacklustre rearguard.

His first was a close-range header after just two minutes and he followed that up with a cool finish after making a swashbuckling burst from the halfway line.

Sharp made light of James Beattie's injury-enforced absence as he netted his third six minutes after the break from close range to seal a thoroughly deserved win for the Blades.

Kevin Blackwell kept faith with the starting XI that suffered a last-gasp defeat to Birmingham on the opening day.

However, Rangers boss Iain Dowie made three changes from the 2-1 win over Barnsley last weekend, with Matthew Connolly, Angelo Balanta and Spanish youngster Daniel Parejo earning starts.

The Blades started in ominous fashion and were ahead after just two minutes.

On-loan Sunderland defender Greg Halford launched a mammoth throw into the heart of the QPR penalty area.

Darius Henderson rose highest to flick the ball on and his strike partner Sharp was unmarked six yards out to head past an exposed Radek Cerny.

The Blades were playing with plenty of verve and vigour and they doubled their advantage 10 minutes later.

Veteran midfielder Gary Speed's pass sliced the Rangers defence in half and after leaving Kaspars Gorkss in his wake, Sharp slotted past the onrushing Cerny from eight yards.

Sharp was again in the thick of the action five minutes later but his low ball across the face of goal was agonisingly behind Henderson.

Home debutant Sun Jihai was creating plenty of problems down the right-hand side for Rangers.

The Chinese international crossed for Henderson after 20 minutes but the former Watford striker's header was thwarted by Cerny.

QPR's new-look side struggled to gain a foothold in the game during the first 45 minutes and were restricted to speculative long-range efforts from Mikele Leigertwood and Parejo.

Sharp should have claimed his hat-trick two minutes before the break but he lashed his angled shot wide of the left post, while Cerny did brilliantly to keep out Michael Tonge's low effort as the Blades looked to kill the game off before half-time.

United started the second period with the same confidence which had characterised their first-half display and they were rewarded for this approach with a third goal after 51 minutes.

Substitute Ugo Ehiogu used his considerable frame to cause panic in the Rangers defence and after an almighty goalmouth scramble Sharp was alert enough to stab home from almost on the line.

Dowie's side were stunned and the closest they came to threatening goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was from Dexter Blackstock's back-post header.

Cerny's bright stop prevented Sharp from netting a fourth, while Stephen Quinn saw his ambitious 25-yard volley creep just over the crossbar as United continued to pile on the pressure.

Despite their insipid display, QPR were desperately unlucky not to pull a goal back after 63 minutes.

Emmanuel Ledesma saw his low shot cannon back off the post and only a sensational saving tackle from Ehiogu prevented Blackstock from slotting home into an empty net from the rebound.

Blackstock was posing a threat and he had two golden opportunities to score just minutes later.

Firstly, his nonchalant flick was kept out by Kenny's outstretched leg and then his glanced header from a corner arched just over the crossbar.

Kenny had to be alert again 10 minutes from time to stop Parejo's free-kick from nestling into the bottom corner, while substitute Danny Webber fired wide for the Blades late on.

Teams:

Sheff Utd Kenny, Halford (Cotterill 66), Naysmith, Morgan (Ehiogu 34), Kilgallon, Jihai, Speed, Tonge, Quinn, Sharp (Webber 83), Henderson.

Subs Not Used: Stead, Spring.

Booked: Halford.

Goals: Sharp 3, 13, 51.

QPR Cerny, Delaney, Hall, Gorkss, Connolly, Leigertwood, Parejo, Cook (Alberti 80), Ledesma, Balanta (Di Carmine 46), Blackstock.

Subs Not Used: Camp, Stewart, Mahon.

Booked: Delaney.

Att: 25,273

Ref: Graham Laws (Tyne & Wear).