Wayne Routledge hit a classy treble to send the R's into Round Two of the League Cup.

The away side were more than value for their win after the interval, with Routledge scoring soon after the break to put the R's in to the lead.

Thereafter, his drilled effort just eight minutes later put Rangers two up, before he added another with a penalty after Scott Golbourne was sent off. Alessandro Pellicori notched a fourth from close-range late on, before Hogan Ephraim finished matters with a stunning effort.

Rangers Manager Jim Magilton made wholesale changes at St. James Park, making no fewer than seven alterations to the side that drew at home to Blackpool on Saturday.

Notable inclusions to the R's starting eleven included Akos Buzsaky and Rowan Vine.

Elsewhere, Peter Ramage had to make do with a place on the substitutes bench after his late goal heroics at the weekend, whilst Martin Rowlands was missing due to an ankle problem that enforced his substitution against the Tangerines on Saturday.

As Rangers emerged onto the Devonshire turf in their all-new limited edition third shirt, it was indeed Magilton's boys who started the stronger and created the first chance.

Good work down the right enabled Matt Connolly to find space. Looking up, he played a beautiful cross to Vine, who shrugged off the advances of his Exeter counterpart before heading for goal - only to see his shot scrape the top of Paul Jones' crossbar and behind for a goal kick.

Moments later, it was the R's who were on the attack again, but this time they got their first clear-cut opportunity to find the net.

After good link-up play between Patrick Agyemang and Vine, Routledge found himself through on the right. Bearing down on goal, the R's winger drilled in a shot hard and low, only to see his shot parried away by Exeter goalkeeper Jones.

It was a lively opening from the R's - in front of a 800-strong away following, who were incidentally, enjoying some friendly banter with Grecians Director of Football Steve Perryman after he could be heard at the back of the main stand chanting "Rooodneeeey." That of course, was in reference to R's legend Rodney Marsh.

At the other end, it was the League One outfit that created their first notable opportunity. After a ball was played into the box in the direction of Marcus Stewart, the former Sunderland man held off Connolly before turning to shoot. His effort, though, was comfortably dealt with by Radek Cerny.

That opportunity seemed to rally the home side, and soon they were to test Cerny again in the Rangers goal. After Ryan Harley beat his full-back, he crossed in dangerously to Stewart whose header wasn't enough to beat last season's Golden Glove winner in the Coca Cola Championship.

It wasn't long before Exeter were on the attack again, and when Berti Cozic received the ball 25-yards out, he sent in a thunderous drive that was well dealt with by Cerny.

It was a game of high intensity, and soon the action was down the other end. This time, when Vine found the ball out wide, he crossed with intent towards the area, and only a risky header from Dan Seaborne could prevent the R's from finding an opportunity to score.

Routledge then broke away down the right before crossing for Damion Stewart, who was still up from a corner. His header was on target, though well palmed wide by Jones.

Fresh from their half-time refreshments, both sides were back to try and nick a goal that would take them through to the Second Round of the competition.

And it was Exeter who started the better, as Richard Duffy saw his long-range shot cause Cerny some discomfort in the R's goal.

Moments later, the home side were on the attack again. Cozic was the man at the centre of the play this time, completing a darting run by sliding a ball neatly to Stewart, but he could only shoot at Cerny.

It seemed as though the home team were taking control of the game, with large amounts of the game being played in Rangers territory.

When you play higher league opposition, though, for all your endeavour sometimes class tells - and it did when Rangers took the lead in the 53rd minute.

After Mikele Leigertwood won the ball in the middle of the park, he played a superb threaded pass to Routledge, who was through on goal.

With the goalkeeper advancing, it would have been easy for Routledge to blunder - but he didn't comfortably dinking the ball over Jones to give Rangers the lead.

From the kick-off, the home side could have found themselves level after Duffy crossed for Craig McAllister, but he could only power his header straight at Cerny.

It was pressure though, that didn't last long - and the R's now found themselves well in control when they added a second.

Agyemang used his lightening pace to power in to the area. Under pressure, he beat two men before releasing Routledge on the right. The angle was tight, but Routledge didn't mind, drilling home past the goalkeeper to put the R's in control in the 61st minute.

And if the game wasn't already safe, just three minutes later it surely was, as Routledge completed his hat-trick.

When Buzsaky sent over a corner and found Kaspars Gorkss, the defender had a header cleared off the line by the hand of Scott Golbourne.

The referee was left with no choice but to send him off and point for a penalty, and it was left for Routledge to slot home from the spot for his third goal.

The game could have seen Rangers add a fourth goal when only a great save prevented Gareth Ainsworth scoring a looping header, before Gorkss was denied with a similar effort.

That fourth goal did come though in the 85th minute courtesy of Pellicori. When Buzsaky's far post cross was headed back across the face of goal by Gorkss, Pellicori controlled before sending home his first competitive goal in an R's shirt.

The visitors weren't finished though; Ephraim this time with a stunning drive in the 89th minute from outside the area that completed the rout..

Exeter City: Jones, Duffy, Russell (Logan 71), Seaborne, Taylor, Harley, McAllister (Norwood 71), Golbourne, Cozic, Stewart, Sercombe.

Subs: Marriott, Tully, Saunders, Burnell, Archibald-Henville.

Red Cards: Golbourne (64).

QPR: Cerny, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge (Ainsworth 65), Vine (Pellicori 65), Buzsaky, Agyemang (Mahon 71), Gorkss, Connolly, Ephraim, Borrowdale.

Subs: Putnins, Ramage, Hall, Alberti.

Goals: Routledge (53 , 61, 64), Pellicori (85), Ephraim (89).

Bookings: Ephraim (47).

Referee: Mr S Bratt.

Attendance: 4,614 (813).