Richard Kone scored a hat-trick inside the first 15 minutes as Queens Park Rangers claimed a remarkable 5-0 victory over high-flying Swansea City.

Kone, who had not scored since April, steered Rangers in front from Paul Smyth's pass inside two minutes before heading home a classy second from Kwame Poku's cross.

The Ivory Coast international striker completed his treble from the penalty spot after Smyth was brought down by goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux.

Swansea had conceded the fewest goals in the Championship before their trip to Loftus Road, but the Welsh side's defensive collapse continued as Jimmy Dunne headed in Rangers' fourth goal from a Harvey Vale corner in first-half stoppage time.

The Swans had their moments going forward, with Adam Idah's 20-yard drive touched on to the bar by a diving Pierce Charles before Melker Widell shot too close to the Rangers goalkeeper in a chaotic first period.

But QPR put the gloss on a memorable afternoon when Dunne prodded in his second as Swansea failed to deal with another set-piece late on.

Swansea's second straight defeat - and their most chastening loss of what had previously been a season full of promise - meant Vitor Matos' team missed the chance to return to the summit of the Championship, though they remain in the top two.

Rangers, meanwhile, climb back into the play-off spots courtesy of a second successive emphatic home win.

Swansea arrived in London having impressed on their travels so far this season, with victories recorded already at Stoke City, Derby County, Lincoln City and Millwall.

Yet their hopes of another away triumph very quickly disappeared against a Rangers side who had won only one of their previous seven games.

The day's opening goal came after Swansea centre-back Stephen Welsh lost out weakly to Poku in the centre circle and the Hoops pounced, with Smyth surging into space and teeing up the unmarked Kone.

The pattern for the first half was set, with the visitors opened up too easily, too often and lacking a finishing touch when chances to respond came at the other end.

Having been beaten at home by West Ham last weekend, Swansea are left licking their wounds after their worst week of the campaign, which serves as a reality check amid talk of an automatic promotion push.

But the mood at Rangers will be buoyant after Julien Stephan's side embarrassed Matos' much-vaunted rearguard en route to their most notable result of the season.

QPR boss Julien Stephan:

"I enjoyed the way the players came on with some clear ideas, with a strong desire to bounce back from the last game and to show today, at home with our fans against the leaders [going into the weekend], we were ready to compete and deliver a top performance.

"How the players played today, it was just outstanding. The players deserve all the credit today – the starters, the finishers, the players who stayed on the bench.

"They worked so hard this week to prepare for this game, they put top quality on the pitch during the different sessions we had together and we felt something very special.

"I told the players they did the best [match day] minus one on the yesterday. Does that mean we will deliver a top performance? No. Does it mean we are ready to deliver a top performance? Yes."

Swansea head coach Vitor Matos:

"Disappointed for all of us. We didn't want to put in a performance like that. It's a performance that's below our level and lower than our standards.

"We know we need to bounce back but first we need to analyse and understand what's wrong because we need to correct a lot of things.

"I think emotionally we felt the first goal too much. That took [away] our organisation, our concentration, and Queens Park Rangers were quite clinical in those moments.

"Then the penalty… that start did not make it easier. Then we suffered two more goals but that's for us to analyse and understand what was wrong."