Middlesbrough 1 QPR 0
QPR were beaten by Grant Leadbitter’s injury-time penalty at the Riverside Stadium.
Leroy Fer was sent off for blocking a goal-bound shot with his hand and Leadbitter scored with the resulting spot-kick.
It denied Rangers what would have been a deserved point and a fourth clean sheet in six matches.
Playing without a recognised striker in the absence of Charlie Austin, they defended resolutely and then troubled Middlesbrough during a second-half spell of pressure.
Austin has been nursing a calf problem, while interim boss Neil Warnock missed the match for personal reasons, leaving Kevin Blackwell in charge.
David Nugent squandered Boro’s best chance of the first half when he nudged the ball against the post after being set up by Albert Adomah.
Earlier, Nedum Onuoha produced a terrific last-ditch challenge to deny Nugent and Diego Fabbrini then fired over the Rangers bar.
The visitors defended in numbers and were unable to create a clear-cut chance before a glorious one came Matt Phillips’ way at the start of the second half, but he was unable to apply the finishing touch to Yun Suk-Young’s low cross.
Rangers continued to probe and keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos saved efforts from Leroy Fer and Alejandro Faurlin.
And Phillips missed another opportunity when he was again unable to finish, this time after being found by Faurlin.
Boro then threatened, with George Friend and Stewart Downing both firing wide, before Grant Hall went close for QPR when he headed wide from Faurlin’s free-kick.
With the home fans increasingly frustrated, Rangers seemed to have done enough to secure a draw, but there was a late twist.
This post was last modified on 21/11/2015