There was still time for Accrington striker Michael Symes to score a consolation. It was greeted with a generous round of applause by the home crowd, who had watched the League Two side put up a brave fight.
R's boss Jim Magilton is already under pressure at Loftus Road this season after winning just three points from a possible 12 in the Championship.
And owner Flavio Briatore, watching in the stands, would have been far from impressed as he watched the players trudge off at half-time to a chorus of boos after an inept attacking display.
Stanley looked the better side in the first period and played some neat passing football, with the dangerous Symes unlucky not to score on more than one occasion.
Magilton responded by making two substitutions at the break, including Tottenham loanee Adel Taarabt, and the Hoops emerged looking much brighter.
Striker Rowan Vine and defender Damion Stewart both missed the target for Rangers within minutes of the restart as Taarabt's pace and trickery lifted the home crowd.
Ephraim broke the deadlock on 68 minutes after receiving the ball just inside the box and letting it bounce before calmly placing it past keeper Alan Martin.
Vine nearly doubled the lead immediately but his low shot was saved well by Martin before Routledge fired in off the crossbar to seal the victory.
Symes pulled one back for Stanley with just seconds left, firing low and hard into the net, and the away fans sang their team off the pitch knowing they deserved more.