Hoops 1-0 Swansea City
A bullet header from Mikele Leigertwood meant QPR returned to winning ways as they impressively triumphed over a spirited Swansea City side at Loftus Road.
Jordi Lòpez's beautifully taken free-kick on the half hour found the airborne skipper who arrowed a header into the far corner to hand Rangers their first win in 10 matches.
The home side dominated throughout and could've added to their lead had Adel Taarabt been a touch more accurate with his long range piledriver, and Heidar Helguson had a little more time.
But the win will come as welcome relief to fans and management alike, and may breathe new life into thoughts of a late play-off charge.
Looking at the team sheet for the home side and it was safe to say one name stood out - Rowan Vine made his long-awaited comeback from a broken leg to take up a seat on the bench and resume First Team duties.
He was joined by fellow absentee Helguson, recent First Team debutant Antonio German, and Ireland duo Damien Delaney and Liam Miller.
Four changes to the starting eleven saw Taarabt, on-loan from Tottenham Hotspur, make his full debut after his cameo appearance against Southampton last time out, and a return to the side for Italian striker Samuel Di Carmine.
Matteo Alberti regained a starting berth at right midfield, with Taarabt on the left, Hogan Ephraim tucked in behind Di Carmine, and Jordi Lòpez and stand-in skipper Leigertwood completed the midfield.
The final change could be found in the heart of the defence. In came Fitz Hall, alongside Kaspars Gorkss, with Matt Connolly and Peter Ramage taking the full-back spots.
Swans' Manager Roberto Martinez felt he could do without leading scorer Jason Scotland and winger Nathan Dyer, with both making the bench.
There were starts, however, for Spaniard Jordi Gomez, fellow midfielder Darren Pratley and Garry Monk at the back.
And it was the impressive Gomez who had the first attempt on target. Shrugging off Ephraim, he let a bouncing ball fall to his desired height and volleyed a speculative effort straight at R's keeper Radek Cerny, who gratefully caught with ease.
Cerny had a little more difficulty with another long range Gomez shot. When the Spaniard picked up possession in the inside right position, he moved the ball to his left foot before cracking a drive goal-bound. Slightly lower than the first, Cerny spilled the ball, but dived forward to smother at the second attempt.
Rangers, not to be outdone on their home turf, followed Swansea's example, but when Ephraim broke through the middle and fed Leigertwood, the latter picked out Ramage. The right back attempted a curling left-footer that took a heavy deflection into the path of Taarabt, who in turn smashed his drive well over.
With half an hour gone, Rangers opened the scoring for the evening. Leigertwood won a free-kick at the expense of Pratley, and when Lòpez produced a cross of the finest quality, the R's captain was on hand to meet it with a thumping header and powered the ball home beyond Dorus de Vries and into the far corner.
Eager to overturn the deficit, Swansea raced out of the blocks in the second half. Thomas Butler released Gorka Pintado down the left and the Spanish striker cut inside Hall and, with only Cerny to beat, was denied by a fantastic stop by the R's Czech stopper.
Following up, Pintado was only denied a second bite of the cherry by a lunging Gorkss, who knocked the ball away for corner in the nick of time.
From then on, it was the visitors who largely dominated possession, but they found themselves up against a resolute blue and white defence.
Having said that, when Taarabt was found on the left and treated the crowd to some quick feet and trickery, his eventual pass found Ephraim, who had no hesitation in trying his luck from the edge of the box. His curling shot, however, was straight down the throat of de Vries.
Now it was the turn of the home side to assert their authority on proceedings but Connolly, usually so assured in possession, almost handed Swansea a lifeline. After Gorkss had cleared a long ball, the left back inexplicably headed the ball back towards the R's goal where Swans substitute Dyer was lurking.
Taking control, the diminutive winger shrugged off his marker and snapped off a shot which, luckily for Connolly, failed to trouble Cerny.
But despite the minor fright, Rangers were in full flow. Alberti drilled a pass to Di Carmine who laid it off for Taarabt on 69 minutes, but the Moroccan's well-hit drive arrowed narrowly wide.
With little over quarter of an hour left to play, boss Paulo Sousa made his first change. The tiring Di Carmine made way for Helguson.
By this time, Scotland had come on for the Swans, and he was only denied a clear shot on goal by a fine block by Gorkss, with Hall rescuing his defensive partner by hacking the loose ball away before the Trinidad & Tobago striker could pick the scraps.
Swansea were looking to find a way back into the match, but when a corner broke down, the ball found its way to Taarabt on the right, who held the ball up and played in Ephraim, who beat a man before fizzing a right-wing cross into the box. Monk, looking to beat the rampaging Helguson to the ball, almost did the work for the Icelander, skewing the ball very nearly into his own net.
Not long after that chance, Rangers were forced to make their second change of the evening. Hall, who had taken a knock, failed to shake it off and was replaced with Delaney.
Another chance for the home side came and went seconds later, as Ephraim and Taarabt combined to set Helguson free through the middle. But with two defenders closing him down, his hurried shot flew over the bar.
But it proved to be Rangers' day, and they held on to claim a victory that, by the celebrations amongst the players and staff alike at the final whistle, meant so much to them.
QPR: Cerny, Hall (Delaney 84), Leigertwood, Gorkss, Ramage, Connolly, Lòpez, (Miller 87) Alberti, Di Carmine (Helguson 74), Ephraim, Taarabt.
Subs: Vine, German.
Scorers: Leigertwood (30)
Bookings: Leigertwood (77)
Red Cards:
Swansea City: De Vries, Williams, Pratley, Gomez (Dyer 62), Monk, Pintado (Scotland 69), Rangel, Bauza, Allen, Serran, Butler.
Subs: Britton, Orlandi, Collins.
Scorers:
Bookings: Pratley (51)
Red Cards:
Referee: Mr G D Horwood
Attendance: 12,288
