Sheffield Utd 2 v QPR 1
Rangers surrendered a one goal lead, as Sheffield United came from behind to clinch a 2-1 victory at Bramall Lane.
The R's appeared to be on their way to maximum points when Patrick Agyemang opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, but a Damion Stewart own goal and Lee Hendrie's first league goal of the campaign sealed it for the Blades.
Defeat was harsh on Rangers, who did more than enough to warrant a point, on an afternoon when two fortuitous goals proved to be their undoing.
Luigi De Canio handed full debuts to recent additions Kieran Lee and Agyemang, while Rowan Vine also started following the completion of his permanent transfer from Birmingham City.
The Blades were minus the services of top-scorer James Beattie (knee), which meant Rob Hulse was joined in attack by Billy Sharp.
United created the first chance of the match inside the opening three minutes, but Lee Bromby's stooping header from a Hendrie corner kick flew well over.
Rangers were by no means second best though, with wide-men Vine and Lee seeing a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges.
Akos Buzsaky tried his luck from distance in the 13th minute, but Paddy Kenny dived low to his right to save the midfielder's 25-yard drive.
Buzsaky was a constant threat, picking up possession from Agyemang four minutes later, only to be denied by a last ditch tackle by the covering Bromby.
The Kenny versus Buzsaky duel continued as the half evolved, with the goalkeeper again coming out on top in the 20th minute, when he dived full stretch to his left to tip over the Magical Magyar's piercing free-kick.
Lee Camp was forced into his first save of the contest moments later, comfortably steering the ball round the post as David Carney let fly from distance.
And the R's keeper had to be at his agile best yet again on the half hour, to palm away Hulse's cross-cum-shot from an acute angle.
With the clock ticking towards the 45th minute, Rangers, having enjoyed the lion's share of possession throughout, staged a final attack of the half.
Gavin Mahon's expansive cross-field pass found Matthew Connolly, who - with time and space - sent an inviting cross into the heart of the six-yard box.
Bromby failed to clear his lines sufficiently and when the ball bobbled free, Agyemang lashed an unstoppable strike into the roof of the net.
Buoyed by their goal, the R's began the second period in equally efficient fashion, with Martin Rowlands leading by example in the heart of the Rangers midfield.
However, unlike the first half, chances remained at a premium, until United grabbed an unlikely leveller in the 64th minute.
Michael Tonge's initial effort from the edge of the box was spectacularly saved by Camp, but as Rowlands attempted to clear his lines, the ball cannoned back off Stewart and into the back of the net.
It was extremely harsh on the R's, who as well as feeling rightly aggrieved at the award of the corner kick that eventually led to the goal, also had vocal appeals for an offside flag waved away.
Stunned by the manner in which they conceded, the R's looked shell-shocked and bad turned to worse moments later.
Connolly's failure to clear his lines from inside the R's six-yard box allowed Hendrie to nip in and fire the ball home from an acute angle.
De Canio responded by introducing striker Dexter Blackstock at the expense of defender Chris Barker, yet despite his bold approach, it was the Blades who continued to threaten, with Hulse heading against the bar, before the same player blazed wide from four yards.
Rangers continued to plug away, but Mr Miller's failure to spot an apparent handball from Matt Kilgallon in the 91st minute ended any hope they had of fashioning an equaliser.
Buzsaky's stunning volley appeared to be destined for the top right hand corner, until Kilgallon stooped to divert the ball wide.
The R's outfield players appealed as one to the official, but on the advice of his assistant, the spot-kick decision was not forthcoming and Rangers left the Steel City with nothing to show for their efforts.
Sheffield United: Kenny, Bromby, Hulse, Hendrie (Stead 70), Carney, Speed, Kilgallon, Tonge, Armstrong, Sharp (Shelton 93), Geary (Gillespie 87).
Subs: Montgomery, Lucketti.
Scorers: Stewart o.g 64, Hendrie 69
Bookings: Hendrie 55
Red Cards:
QPR: Camp, Barker (Blackstock 74), Mahon, Stewart, Buzsaky, Rowlands, Connolly, Agyemang, Lee, Vine, Hall.
Subs: Bolder, Ainsworth, Walton, Ephraim.
Scorers: Agyemang 45
Bookings: Blackstock 81
Red Cards:
Referee: Mr N S Miller
Attendance: 28, 894
