Half-time: QPR 1 Bournemouth 0

Charlie Austin took advantage of some dire defending to put the home side ahead at Loftus Road, where Bournemouth controversially made it to half-time only 1-0 down and with 11 men still on the pitch.

QPR went in front when Andy Johnson beat Tommy Elphick on the left and his cross was completely misjudged by Simon Francis, enabling Austin to fire home his 10th goal of the season.

The 27th-minute breakthrough should then have been followed by a Rangers penalty and arguably a red card for Elphick, who was at least a yard inside the area when he scooped the ball away with his hand as Austin went past him.

Inexplicably, a free-kick was awarded and Elphick escaped without even a booking despite the incident occurring in line with the assistant referee, who was twice consulted by match official Andy Woolmer before a final decision was made.

Earlier, Austin had a header comfortably pushed to safety by ex-Rangers keeper Lee Camp shortly after Cherries midfielder Matt Ritchie had fired over from long range.

Keen for his team to bounce back from Saturday’s surprise defeat at Doncaster, Harry Redknapp made major changes.

The Rangers boss switched to a 4-4-2 formation, with Johnson up front and on-loan Tottenham midfielder Tom Carroll in the starting line-up following his recovery from an ankle injury.

Junior Hoilett was also given a starting place, with Niko Kranjcar, Matt Phillips and Jermaine Jenas dropping to the bench.

QPR (4-4-2): Green; Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto; Carroll, Barton, O’Neil, Hoilett, Johnson, Austin.
Subs: Murphy; Traore, Phillips, Jenas, Kranjcar, Henry, Young.

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