QPR 4-0 Carlisle
Manager John Ward went for a new-look attack for this Carling Cup second-round tie at Loftus Road, with 18-year-old Gary Madine and the experienced Michael Bridges coming in for Carlton and Graham up front.
Cleveland Taylor was the only other change to the side that won three of its four opening games as he deputised for the suspended Scott Dobie.
United started well with some neat touches in the centre of the park, as Bridges got himself involved early to link the play. The ball eventually came to Madine, and his cross could only be headed in to the air by Parejo. Hackney went for a first time volley, 16-yards from goal, but it was on his right foot and it flew harmlessly over the bar.
Quick thinking at a throw in created a crossing opportunity for Ramage at the other end, and he drilled it hard across the face of the 18-yard box as Mahon stole some space. His volley was crisp, but Livesey was in the way as he blocked it for a corner.
Emmanuel Ledesma forced Williams in to a parried save in the 7th minute, when he went for the top corner from 30-yards out, but the keeper was equal to it, despite the fact that it was spinning wickedly in the air.
Peter Murphy was next to block as Rowlands exchanged passes, taking him on a run right through the middle of the Carlisle midfield. He went for his shot, 22-yards from goal, but the United central defender had tracked him and put himself in the way.
United started to settle as they broke through the 20 minute barrier, and the move of the game thus far was brought to a halt by the offside flag as Cleveland Taylor came in from the right and dictated things from midfield. His back heeled pass then released Hackney, but the assistant judged that he'd gone too early, and started to wave.
A quick free kick put Horwood in to the box in the 24th minute, and his far post cross was nodded back towards Bridges by Madine. It was an awkward bounce and the Carlisle striker's 8-yard header was never going to trouble Cerny.
Lee Cook tried one from distance as Rangers tried to impose themselves once more, with Livesey getting himself in the way this time, and Bridges sent one right at the keeper as the ball swung from end to end.
Ben Williams made a superb save in the 31st minute when Stewart sent a long pass towards the Carlisle area. Ledesma was on to it like a flash, and his hooked lob needed a touch to take it away for a corner. The big stopper was at full stretch again moments later when Delaney came in wide and angled a shot towards the far corner. Strong hands were enough to turn it away this time.
The Cumbrians were by no means second best, and they had a good shout for a penalty in the 36th minute when Hackney received a cheeky pass from Bridges. His cross was heading for Madine until Parejo appeared to block it with his arm, but Mr Hill showed no interest and waved play on.
A quick break looked promising on 40 minutes when Hackney jinked his way in to the home half, and he fed Bridges in to the area with a slide rule pass. On his left foot, and pushed slightly wide, he went for the first time shot and was disappointed as it screwed well wide of the target.
If United felt aggrieved at not being given anything from their first penalty appeal, they were incensed when they got nothing from the second when Gary Madine was literally hauled to the floor as he tried to get on the end of a Taylor cross, deep in to time added on. All eyes shifted to the Referee, and it was amazement all round as he ignored the appeals and waved play on.
Half Time: QPR 0 - 0 United
Rangers started brightly with a quick break as Ledesma robbed possession from Horwood. Di Carmine ran on, but he was closer to the corner flag than the goal with his dragged and scuffed shot.
United were undone in the 48th minute as Ledesma used his pace to carve a path in to the box and force a corner. That was sent to the near post, and Damion Stewart beat Williams to the ball, getting enough on it to glance it in to the back of the net.
Di Carmine went close 60 seconds later when he ran 20-yards with the ball before shooting through the bodies in front of him in a bid to sneak it in to the near post area. Williams did well to drop on it and gather it at the second attempt.
The home side were lifted by the goal and Ledesma scored a wonderful individual effort, to extend the lead, on 55 minutes when he turned Murphy, 18-yards out, and stroked it in to the bottom corner, via the woodwork.
Bridge-Wilkinson reminded Rangers that Carlisle still had a part to play on 61 minutes when he sent a first time volley right at Cerny, from distance.
The tie was all but closed on 63 minutes when a neat passage of interplay put the dangerous Ledesma in to a clear shooting position. With Williams exposed he had bottom left or right to choose from, and he finished it clinically, finding the corner of the net with aplomb.
Jeff Smith almost made an immediate impact when he came on for Hackney in the 72nd minute and immediately got himself in to the opposition box. His initial volley from a Raven cross was blocked, but he spun to try and guide it in to the bottom corner from the rebound, only to find that Cerny was equal to his shot as he pushed it around the post for a corner.
Lee Cook was a whisker away from making it four for the Rangers when he stayed forward from a corner, and took the pass from Balanta. It was nothing more than a toe poke, but it had power and speed, and it was just millimetres wide of the target.
Jeff Smith tried to catch Cerny unawares with a 25-yard free kick in the 75th minute, but the keeper did enough to get across and protect his near post.
Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma wrapped up a stunning individual display in the 84th minute when he skipped through challenges and exchanged before casually lofting the ball in to the back of the net to the appreciation of the Loftus Road crowd.
Ledesma was flying, and he decided to stay greedy on 90 minutes with a cheeky 23-yard shot that flew just over the bar.
That was the last action of what had been an entertaining encounter, with the difference between the sides a scinitillating second half display from an in form striker.
Goals
QPR - Stewart (48), Ledesma (55, 63, 84)
Bookings
QPR - Delaney (65)
Teams
QPR - Cerny, Delaney (Gorkss 68), Stewart, Mahon (Bolder 68), Parejo, Rowlands, Ramage, Connolly, Cook, Ledesma, Di Carmine (Balanta 68). Subs - Camp, Alberti, Ephraim, Ainsworth.
United - Williams, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Taylor, Bridge-Wilkinson, Thirlwell, Hackney (J Smith 72), Bridges (G Smith 74), Madine. Subs - Howarth, Campion, Graham, Carlton, Keogh.
