Match ends, Preston North End 1, Queens Park Rangers 3.
PrestonPreston North End1QPRQueens Park Rangers3
QPR came from behind to win at Deepdale as Preston's Championship play-off prospects suffered a setback.
Alex Neil's side took the lead in the 19th minute through a Daniel Johnson penalty, but QPR were level shortly after the hour mark when Rangers captain Grant Hall volleyed home Eberechi Eze's free-kick.
Rangers were reduced to 10 men with 25 minutes remaining when Geoff Cameron received a second yellow, as Preston looked to find a second goal.
But it was the visitors who went ahead in the 79th minute through Ryan Manning's curling effort past Declan Rudd, and Eberechi Eze put the result beyond doubt with a classy finish on the break.
Preston could have gone four points clear of seventh in the Championship with a victory following Bristol City's draw with Fulham in Saturday's early fixture.
And they were nearly 1-0 up inside the first three minutes when Sean Maguire struck the post from a tight angle after being played through by Johnson.
The Lilywhites were good value for their lead when Johnson converted his spot-kick after Marc Pugh brought Darnell Fisher down in the penalty area, and nearly doubled it midway through the first period when defender Andrew Hughes headed just wide from a Paul Gallagher corner.
Rangers, who were looking to complete a league double over Preston for the first time since the 1967-68 season, equalised against the run of play through Hall in the 61st minute.
However, Preston very nearly retook the lead when Sean Maguire's looping header rebounded off the bar in the 63rd minute, before QPR's Cameron was shown a second yellow for a foul on Darnell Fisher.
But, as the home team pushed for a win, they were twice caught out on the counter-attack and QPR held on for a third win from their last five fixtures to go 12th in the table, while Preston remained in sixth.
Preston North End boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I think we started the game great, we were really on the front foot.
"I think we haven't capitalised on our dominance in the first half.
"I don't think we worked the ball well enough in the middle, and when we did go forward, they just headed everything out.
"I thought we probably had seven or eight players who were excellent in the first half, but I think a couple of them died out in the second half."
QPR boss Mark Warburton:
"It's a really good result, we know Preston's home record is outstanding this season, they'd only lost three times at home this season.
"We were really poor, deserved to be one down, in truth it was a blessing it was only one. We didn't force a shot, didn't force a save, didn't look like creating a chance.
"Thoroughly deserved to be one down. We had to come out, change our shape, made two changes and I could have made seven.
"What a reaction from the players, what a response, we looked on the front foot, we won our duals, we looked dangerous and scored three wonderful goals."
Line-ups
Preston
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Rudd
- 2Fisher
- 21Bauer
- 6DaviesBooked at 61mins
- 16Hughes
- 8Browne
- 12GallagherBooked at 44minsSubstituted forStockleyat 73'minutes
- 29BarkhuizenSubstituted forSinclairat 81'minutes
- 11Johnson
- 10HarropSubstituted forLedsonat 81'minutes
- 24Maguire
Substitutes
- 15Rafferty
- 18Ledson
- 20Stockley
- 23Huntington
- 25Ripley
- 31Sinclair
- 35Nugent
QPR
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 32Kelly
- 22Rangel
- 4Hall
- 29Barbet
- 14Manning
- 5CameronBooked at 67mins
- 12BallSubstituted forAmosat 45'minutesBooked at 83mins
- 20Osayi-Samuel
- 10Eze
- 7PughSubstituted forChairat 45'minutes
- 9Hugill
Substitutes
- 1Lumley
- 2Kane
- 8Amos
- 17Shodipo
- 18Oteh
- 19Chair
- 47Clarke
- Referee:
- Dean Whitestone
- Attendance:
- 12,378
Match Stats
Home TeamPrestonAway TeamQPR
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Preston North End 1, Queens Park Rangers 3.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Ledson (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Scott Sinclair.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Hughes (Preston North End).
Post update
Jordan Hugill (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Sean Maguire (Preston North End).
Post update
Yoann Barbet (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jayden Stockley (Preston North End).
Post update
Ryan Manning (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Sean Maguire (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers).
Goal!
Goal! Preston North End 1, Queens Park Rangers 3. Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bright Samuel.
Booking
Luke Amos (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Sean Maguire (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Luke Amos (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Hand ball by Jayden Stockley (Preston North End).
Post update
Jayden Stockley (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Yoann Barbet (Queens Park Rangers).
Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Scott Sinclair replaces Tom Barkhuizen.
Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Ryan Ledson replaces Josh Harrop.
