QPR 3-1 Reading
Ten-man QPR recorded a stunning 3-1 victory against Reading at Loftus Road.
Adel Taarabt gave the R's the lead from the penalty spot midway through the first half, after Brian Howard was adjudged to have felled the Moroccan international in the box.
Rangers were dealt a blow when Bradley Orr was dismissed for a challenge on Hal Robson-Kanu just moments short the break, before Faurlin increased the R's advantage on the hour mark.
Shane Long gave Brian McDermott's men hope with a terrific effort in the 68th minute.
Before Tommy Smith made sure the R's would take all three points on 71 minutes, netting his first goal for the Club from close range following Taarabt's excellent free-kick was tipped back into his direction.
QPR made two changes to the starting XI that shared the spoils with Burnley at Loftus Road last time out.
Orr came in for Clint Hill, while Smith was handed his first start in R's colours at the expense of Hogan Ephraim.
Paddy Kenny was in goal for Rangers.
Orr, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Kyle Walker made up the R's back four.
Shaun Derry and Faurlin were in defensive midfield.
Jamie Mackie, Taarabt and Smith operated in more advanced roles ahead of the holding two, in support of Rob Hulse up front.
The R's should have been ahead on as early as eight minutes.
When Taarabt and Faurlin combined 25-yards out, the latter drilled a rasping drive on target that smashed against the underside of the bar, before bouncing on the goal-line and back into play.
Hulse reacted first to the loose ball but couldn't apply the finish, as his dragged effort from close range trickled towards the line before the ball was cleared to safety.
The opening exchanges were certainly fierce, though referee Mr Tanner seemed happy to let proceedings flow despite a number of meaty challenges.
Rangers continued to press, with Adam Federici forced into a super save to thwart Hulse, whose header looked certain to be heading for the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Moments later, the R's went even closer.
Mackie was in the thick of the early action and, after he was freed on the right-hand edge of the box, his resultant cross was too far behind Smith for him to get a touch.
The R's were dominant and they deservedly took the lead from the penalty spot on 27 minutes.
Taarabt skilfully rode two challenges and, as he went to skip past the third of Howard, he was hauled to the ground.
The magical Moroccan dusted himself down before coolly dispatching from the spot, sending the cheekiest of lobs into the top right-hand corner.
Soon after, Hulse should have doubled the R's advantage.
Taarabt found Faurlin out wide on the left, before the Argentinean ace's centre was met by the head of Hulse, who could only nod agonisingly over the bar.
Rangers were dealt a cruel blow on the stroke of half-time, after Orr was harshly given a straight red card following a tackle on Robson-Kanu.
It was, in truth, a late challenge on the Royals midfield man - though just as it looked as if the referee was reaching for a yellow card, he stunned the home faithful by sending Orr from the field.
In light of the R's being reduced to 10 men, R's gaffer Neil Warnock was forced into a tactical reshuffle - with Mackie forced into a deeper role of right-back at the start of the second period.
Despite being a man short, Rangers didn't hold back.
Indeed, Mackie played in Smith down the right and, as he sent over a looping centre in the direction of Hulse, the R's striker powered his header straight at Reading keeper Federici.
The R's added work-rate and endeavour was clear for all to see - and Loftus Road was sent into raptures when Faurlin doubled QPR's advantage on 61 minutes.
Mackie was sent clear down the right and he laid a cross back into the area for Hulse.
Reading defender Matt Mills slid superbly across his six-yard box to clear the ball away - but only as far Faurlin on the edge of the area, who followed up to blast home a deflected effort into the top left-hand corner of the net.
Minutes later, Rangers nearly added a third.
Confusion between Andy Griffin and Jobi McAnuff eventually ended in Mackie through one-on-one with Federici, before the stopper did brilliantly well to block the ball against the R's front-man for a goal kick.
Reading reduced their deficit thanks to a lovely strike from Long on 68 minutes.
Long held off his marker 25-yards out before curling a beautiful effort into the top right-hand corner of the goal.
However, 19 minutes from time, Rangers sealed the points.
Faurlin was felled 30 yards from goal, before Taarabt's free-kick - that seemed to be heading for the top left-hand corner - was palmed only as far as Smith from six yards.
The Pompey loanee made no mistake thereafter, slotting home from close range to seal the win.
