Town suffered a second successive defeat for the first time this season and drop to third in the table after goals from Paul Furlong and Danny Shittu gave Rangers victory.

QPR went ahead on just two minutes, Kelvin Davis' free-kick hit Furlong on the back leaving the veteran frontman clear on goal, his left foot shot beating the Blues' keeper low to his left.

Danny Shittu then wrapped up the points for the visitors 15 minutes from time, heading in from a free-kick.

Furlong could have put Rangers ahead even before his goal, the 36-year-old striker failing to take Kevin Gallen's pass in his stride in the penalty area as Richard Naylor challenged.

The former Watford player's link up play with Gallen was a problem for the Town defence throughout the first-half and it took a terrific challenge from David Unsworth on 12 minutes to stop Furlong adding a second.

Jason De Vos picked up his fifth yellow card of the season for a foul on Furlong, a caution that sees him suspended for next week's visit to his former club Wigan.

Rangers went close again to extending their lead when Furlong sent Gallen clear on the left, the QPR skipper's cross drifting behind the goal with Georges Santos, back at Town, free five yards out.

Darren Bent carried the main threat for Blues and twice his pace got behind the QPR defence, Shittu clearing on both occasions.

Scowcroft sent a header straight at Simon Royce from a Darren Currie cross then Tommy Miller fired over after Scowcroft set him up but it took another great challenge from Naylor to prevent Gallen making it two just before the break.

Town boss Joe Royle introduced Pablo Counago and Ian Westlake for Jim Magilton and Scowcroft on 56 minutes as Town looked for a way back into the game.

Rangers continued to threaten on the break though and Martin Rowlands fired just wide after Furlong released him on the right, then former Town Academy player Adam Miller, on as a second-half blasted just past the right hand post from 25 yards.

Ian Holloway's side extended their lead on 74 minutes, Counago gave away a free-kick just outside the box and Rowlands' curler was headed in by the un-marked Shittu.

Counago, making his first appearance in the Championship in three months, brought a smart save from Royce shortly after and the Spaniard did well to set up an opening for Dean Bowditch but the teenager stabbed the ball wide with his left foot.

Bent had a half-chance as the game drifted into injury time but his shot lacked power and Shittu was in the right place to clear from the England U21 international as Town suffered a second successive home defeat.

Town line-up: Davis, Wilnis, De Vos, Naylor, Unsworth, Miller, Horlock, Magilton (Counago 56), Currie (Bowditch 71), Scowcroft (Westlake 56), Bent. Subs not used: Price, Karbassiyoon.