QPR 3-2 Northampton
Teenage substitute Ray Jones scored his first career goal as QPR edged past Northampton in the Carling Cup.
Rangers took control early on when Lee Cook's low drive and Kevin Gallen's deflected free-kick put them 2-0 up.
Andy Kirk had already hit the post for the Cobblers when Jerome Watt pulled one back with a 25-yard strike.
Kirk levelled things up on 78 minutes with a superb curling shot but with extra-time looming, Jones met Marcus Bignot's cross to nod home the winner.
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QPR: Cole, Bignot, Rehman, Stewart (Kanyuka 90), Howell, Baidoo, Bailey, Bircham (Ray Jones 84), Cook, Gallen (Oliseh 77), Blackstock.
Subs Not Used: Paul Jones, Donnelly.
Booked: Ray Jones.
Goals: Cook 18, Gallen 50, Ray Jones 87.
Northampton: Bunn, Crowe, Chambers, Dyche, Brett Johnson (Bojic 69), Bradley Johnson (Watt 45), Jess, Burnell, Aiston, Kirk, Quinn (Gilligan 85).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Cross.
Goals: Watt 55, Kirk 78.
Att: 4,569
Ref: P Miller (Bedfordshire).
WADDOCK KEEPS FEET ON GROUND
QPR boss Gary Waddock backed super-sub Ray Jones to keep his feet on the ground after the teenager's first career goal sent the Hoops into the second round of the Carling Cup.
Rangers blew a two-goal lead, courtesy of deflected strikes from Lee Cook and Kevin Gallen, as Jerome Watt and Andy Kirk hauled slick League One side Northampton back into the game at Loftus Road.
But Jones, who has been earning some rave reviews for his performances this season, climbed off the bench to head Rangers into the next round with a 3-2 win to avenge a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Cobblers at the same stage of the competition last year.
\"His life couldn't be much better over the past couple of weeks,\" said Waddock. \"He's had a lot of attention but he's been exactly the same.
\"He made his debut this season and everyone was raving but he didn't score, and now he has.
\"He's a very talented young man. Young players can reach a certain level but we hope he will develop into a better player.\"
Waddock admitted Northampton had provided a scare for his side but was full of praise for his players' character.
\"Credit to Northampton, they are a good footballing side,\" he added. \"But at 2-2 we could have folded, and last season we might well have done, so that is credit to the players.\"
Opposite number John Gorman felt hard done by, however, although he too saluted his side's resilience.
\"It was a great game and a good advert for the cup,\" said Gorman. \"I don't think we deserved to lose, but then I didn't think we deserve to be two goals down, both to deflected shots.
\"Their second goal wasn't a free-kick but then I don't think we got a decision all night.
\"But I'm proud of my players, we came back from two goals down, took the game to QPR and created lots of chances for an away team.\"
