Two sent off as QPR lose at Preston
Preston 1 QPR 0
Ten-man QPR were beaten by a late goal at Deepdale.
Jamie Mackie was red-carded midway through the first half for a challenge on Tom Clarke.
And Alex Baptiste was also sent off after the final whistle for a second bookable offence, seemingly for dissent.
It means Baptiste, who was passed fit for the game after shaking off a hamstring problem and had to battle to complete the 90 minutes after appearing to aggravate the injury, faces a suspension – adding to QPR’s defensive woes.
Without several sidelined defenders, and still without an away win this season, Rangers dug in and defended well after Mackie’s dismissal.
However, they switched off with a couple of minutes remaining and were punished.
Paul Gallagher played the ball through for Jordan Hugill, who slotted past Alex Smithies.
Rangers had looked like picking up a deserved point.
Young midfielder Ilias Chair, making his league debut for the R’s in the absence of the suspended Luke Freeman, went close with a deflected shot and a free-kick.
Keeper Smithies produced a number of saves, but the visitors did manage to threaten – especially after target man Matt Smith was brought on in the second half.
The home fans were growing increasingly frustrated before their side broke the deadlock.
And Rangers almost snatched an equaliser when Jack Robinson’s injury-time strike was saved by keeper Chris Maxwell.
QPR: Smithies, Baptiste, Robinson, Bidwell, Wszolek, Scowen, Luongo, Chair (Sylla 90), Wheeler (Smith 73), Mackie, Washington.
Subs not used: Lumley, Cousins, Manning, Goss, Smyth.
