QPR 1-0 Cardiff
Substitute Gavin Mahon's 80th minute header won it for the R's, as nine-man Cardiff City returned to Wales pointless.
The experienced midfield general rose to head home Peter Ramage's back post cross, as Rangers moved level on points with the Welsh outfit in the Championship table.
After losing Darren Purse to a straight red card for a foul on Lee Cook just before the half hour, Dave Jones' men were forced to play the final three minutes with nine men, after Miguel Comminges picked up two bookings in as many minutes and was given his marching orders.
In truth, the R's were good value for their win, with substitute Akos Buzsaky instrumental in their improved second half display.
Caretaker Manager Gareth Ainsworth recalled the fit-again Ramage to his starting XI.
The former Newcastle United defender lined up at right back, with Matthew Connolly filling Damien Delaney's boots in the left back berth.
Emmanuel Ledesma replaced Buzsaky on the right hand side of midfield, while Dexter Blackstock partnered Samuel Di Carmine in attack.
In the absence of top-scorer Ross McCormack, Bluebirds boss Dave Jones handed a start to loanee Michael Chopra, who was joined in attack by Eddie Johnson.
However, it was Bluebirds centre-half Roger Johnson who squandered the first opportunity of the contest, when he headed over a first minute Stephen McPhail corner kick.
At the other end, Ledesma's crafty through ball found Blackstock, but - for once - his first touch evaded him on the edge of the six-yard box, and the chance was gone.
With the exception of those two half-chances and a Ledesma shot which flew two yards wide, Radek Cerny and Tom Heaton were relative spectators.
However, their inactivity didn't last long, with Stephen McPhail forcing Cerny into a full length save following a neat one-two with Peter Whittingham, before Damion Stewart headed over midway through the half.
Disaster struck for the visitors in the 28th minute, however, when referee Mr Probert brandished a straight red card to Purse, after his late lunge on Cook.
The ball appeared to be there to be won, but having caught Cook knee high, the man in the middle decided a red card was the appropriate action.
Jones responded by withdrawing the unfortunate Joe Ledley and replacing him with Gabor Gyepes, and switching to a 4-3-2 formation in the process.
Buoyed by their numerical advantage, the R's enjoyed their most productive spell of the match heading into the break.
Ledesma's ferocious half-volley was well held by Heaton, before Blackstock was denied the opportunity to fire an effort on goal by an expertly timed challenge from Gyepes.
Whittingham's powerful drive over ensured it wasn't all one-way traffic, however, with Cerny happy to see his fizzing effort fly inches over on the stroke of half-time.
The second period was only seconds old when Eddie Johnson stung the palms of Cerny, before Ramage smashed the outside of Heaton's left hand post with a miscued cross.
Sensing the R's required fresh legs, Ainsworth introduced fans favourite Buzsaky at the expense of Ledesma.
The Magical Magyar didn't need long to stamp his undoubted class on proceedings, deftly laying the ball off to set up a Rangers attack, which ended with Di Carmine firing high and wide,
As the half wore on, Cardiff continued to frustrate the R's, with Gyepes and Roger Johnson successfully stifling the threat posed by Blackstock and Di Carmine in the attacking third.
Ramage's cross-cum-shot was well held by Heaton inches in front of his own goal-line, before Ainsworth - fresh from introducing Mahon - made a final change, calling upon the returning Patrick Agyemang.
Seconds later, Buzsaky stung the palms of Heaton with a powerful drive from distance, before Chopra's half-hearted appeals for a spot-kick were correctly waved away by Heaton.
You sensed the tide was turning in Rangers' favour as the clock ticked towards the 80 minute mark and when Ramage delivered an expert cross to the far post, Mahon's looping header sailed beyond the outstretched dive of Heaton and into the far corner of the net.
It was a superbly executed header from the former Watford midfielder, who ran to the Loft End to celebrate with the R's faithful.
Bad turned to worse for the Bluebirds three minutes from time, when Comminges received his second booking in as many minutes for dissent, and was given his marching orders.
Remarkably, City still had a golden chance to claim a share of the spoils at the death, but Cerny kept out Roger Johnson's back post header.
QPR: Cerny, Stewart, Hall, Blackstock, Rowlands, Ramage, Connolly, Cook, Tommasi (Mahon 67), Ledesma (Buzsaky 55), Di Carmine (Agyemang 71).
Subs: Cole, Delaney.
Goals: Mahon 80
Bookings: Agyemang 81
Red Cards:
Cardiff City: Heaton, McNaughton, Rae, Purse, Whittingham, E. Johnson (Parry 72), McPhail, R. Johnson, Comminges, Ledley (Gyepes 29), Chopra.
Subs: Enckleman, Blake, Brown.
Goals:
Bookings: McPhail 84, Comminges 85 & 87
Red Cards: Purse 28, Comminges 87
Referee: Mr L W Probert
Attendance: 13, 247
