Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 1, Preston North End 2.
QPRQueens Park Rangers1PrestonPreston North End2
Preston kept their hopes of reaching the Championship play-offs alive as they came from behind to win at QPR.
Matt Smith poked in Ryan Manning's volleyed cross to put the hosts ahead.
Callum Robinson levelled on the stroke of half-time when his close-range effort from a low ball in from Darnell Fisher just crept over the line.
After having a goal ruled out for offside, Robinson turned Alan Browne's goalbound header home on the line to seal victory for Alex Neil's side.
The Lilywhites move up to eighth, three points off the play-offs, with three games of the campaign remaining.
Three consecutive defeats looked to have ended North End's hopes of a top-six finish, but back-to-back victories - coupled with Millwall failing to win and Derby losing at relegation-threatened Burton - mean Preston could still force their way into the top six.
The visitors had keeper Declan Rudd to thank for keeping them in the game, as the former England Under-21 international tipped over Manning's header with the score at 1-0.
After QPR forward Idrissa Sylla had a penalty shout turned down Preston rallied, with Robinson seeing his tap-in from Tom Clarke's header chalked off before getting a slight touch on Browne's header for the winner.
Fourteen of North End's last 17 league goals have now been scored in the second half of matches, while Ian Holloway's QPR suffered their third defeat in six games and remain 15th.
Preston North End boss Alex Neil:
"I didn't think we played particularly well first half but it was a much improved second half and we ran out worthy winners.
"In the first half I didn't think they were much better than us, I just thought it was a scrappy match and we needed to be better in the second half and we did that which was pleasing.
"We still have to focus on ourselves. Whatever happens elsewhere, if we don't win our games we aren't going to have a chance so we will keep going and see what happens."
Line-ups
QPR
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13IngramBooked at 38mins
- 2Furlong
- 20Baptiste
- 18RobinsonBooked at 70mins
- 3Bidwell
- 8CousinsSubstituted forFreemanat 73'minutes
- 21LuongoBooked at 83mins
- 14Manning
- 30Eze
- 34Osayi-SamuelSubstituted forSmythat 63'minutes
- 17SmithSubstituted forSyllaat 62'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Smithies
- 7Freeman
- 11Scowen
- 22Wszolek
- 29Kakay
- 37Smyth
- 40Sylla
Preston
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Rudd
- 14Fisher
- 5Clarke
- 23Huntington
- 3CunninghamBooked at 41mins
- 4Pearson
- 39BodinSubstituted forGallagherat 63'minutes
- 11JohnsonSubstituted forHarropat 63'minutes
- 8Browne
- 29Barkhuizen
- 37RobinsonSubstituted forHorganat 90+4'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Horgan
- 10Harrop
- 12Gallagher
- 20Davies
- 21Moult
- 22Maxwell
- 32Earl
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
- Attendance:
- 13,760
Match Stats
Home TeamQPRAway TeamPreston
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away7
- Corners
- Home5
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home23
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 1, Preston North End 2.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jake Bidwell with a headed pass.
Post update
Offside, Preston North End. Ben Pearson tries a through ball, but Tom Barkhuizen is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Josh Harrop (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt saved. Tom Barkhuizen (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Josh Harrop.
Substitution
Substitution, Preston North End. Daryl Horgan replaces Callum Robinson.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Manning (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Ben Pearson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum Robinson (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Alan Browne following a fast break.
Post update
Foul by Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Alan Browne (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Idrissa Sylla (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Paul Gallagher (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Josh Harrop (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alan Browne.
Post update
Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ben Pearson (Preston North End).
Booking
Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Callum Robinson (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.
