Latest: QPR 1 Blackburn 2 – Rhodes goal leaves Rangers on course for another defeat

Jordan Rhodes’ goal on the hour mark left QPR facing the prospect of a second home defeat in the space of four days.

Charlie Austin cancelled out Shane Duffy’s goal to equalise for Rangers in the opening minute of the second half.

However, when Fode Koita beat Gabriele Angella in the air, Rhodes held off Nedum Onuoha before nudging the ball past keeper Alex Smithies.

Rangers were poor in the first half and went behind on 14 minutes.

Keeper Smithies, making his full league debut for Chris Ramsey’s side, spilled Craig Conway’s left-wing free-kick at the far post and felt he was fouled by Duffy, who tapped into an unguarded net.

Rangers hit back through Austin, who capitalised on a fortunate ricochet to score his sixth goal of the season.

Massimo Luongo’s ball into the box was deflected into Austin’s path and he rounded keeper Jason Steele before firing home from a tight angle, with his shot striking the unlucky Markus Olsson on the way in.

Austin had created his team’s best chance of the first half, but his dinked cross from the right was headed over from six yards out by Tjarron Chery.

And Smithies then produced a point-blank save to deny Rhodes just before half-time when Olsson had found space in the area and pulled the ball back from the left.

Austin’s equaliser galvanised Rangers and they appealed in vain for a penalty shortly afterwards, protesting that Danny Guthrie had blocked Chery’s shot with his arm.

The game appeared to be swinging in their favour but the shoddy defending which has plagued their season so far was evident again as Rhodes restored Rovers’ lead.

Ramsey responded by sending on the fit-again Jamie Mackie for his first appearance at Loftus Road since returning to QPR during the summer.