QPR 2 Scunthorpe United 0
SCUNTHORPE United crashed to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of a vibrant QPR in their Championship clash at Loftus Road.
The first of those two strikes came from an unlikely source - Rangers' Bradley Orr.
The defender stooped to head home, across the helpless Joe Murphy as United went a goal down in the 18th minute.
And their woe was doubled just before the interval when Heidar Helguson expertly converted a brilliant throw ball from Adel Taarabt.
There were three omissions from the Iron's starting XI, with Garry Thompson, Rob Jones and David Mirfin all missing out.
Thompson and Mirfin had both been struggling with injury in the build up to the London encounter, while Jones' absence was a surprise to most.
None made the squad, with Michael Raynes, Niall Canavan and Sam Togwell drafted in as United named just six substitutes.
Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins welcomed Togwell back from a one-match ban as the Iron attempted to inflict a first league defeat of the season on Rangers, who have yet to concede a goal in the process.
But, after a solid start from United, it was the hosts who went closest to the opening goal through the mercurial Taarabt.
The Moroccan drilled a low 30-yard free-kick toward goal, but Iron keeper Murphy pushed it clear.
Orr's effort, and a magnificent Murphy save from a point-blank header, symbolised the pressure being exerted on the Iron in the opening period.
Jonathan Forte had United's best chance of the half, but after beating the offside trap and latching on to a Chris Dagnall through ball, he could only tamely chip over the top.
Murphy was again on hand to tip over a Helguson header as an under pressure United welcomed the half-time whistle.
After the interval, Scunthorpe started brightly, Martyn Woolford forcing a decent low stop from Hoops keeper Paddy Kenny.
But it was the hosts once more who threatened, Kaspars Gorkss hitting the top of the bar with a header.
As the tempo of the game slowed, Michael O'Connor nearly reduced the arrears in the 65th minute, but his low strike from distance was palmed behind by a nervous-looking Kenny.
Hoops striker Helguson should have had a hatful, but was in wasteful mood as he fired over with an open net at his mercy, following a perfect cut back from the left by Hogan Ephraim.
Forte could have set up a nervy finish for the hosts, but, when bearing down on Kenny, his low shot toward the far corner was comfortably pushed clear by the Rangers stopper.
Sub Akos Buzsaky forced an excellent fingertip stop from Murphy, as his curling effort from the left was tipped round the post by the Republic of Ireland international.
The game winded down to a predictable conclusion and the men from Glanford Park can have few complaints as they were beaten by a dominant, promotion-chasing QPR side.
SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Murphy, Nolan, Canavan, Raynes, McNulty (Byrne 82), J Wright, Togwell, O'Connor, Woolford (Grant 77), Dagnall, Forte; Slocombe, A Wright, Collins, McClenahan.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS: Kenny, Orr, Gorkss, Connolly, Hill, Mackie, Derry (Leigertwood 87), Ephraim, Faurlin, Taarabt (Buzsaky 73), Helguson (German 90); Cerny, Clarke, Ramage, Parker.
ATT: 12,046 (439 away)
