Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Preston North End

Callum Robinson (left) started Preston's comeback with a goal just before half-time

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.

• Relive Saturday's EFL action as it happened

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
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

QPR

• 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

• 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

Posted at

Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 1, Preston North End 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 1, Preston North End 2.

Posted at 90'+6'

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.

Posted at 90'+5'

Offside, Preston North End. Ben Pearson tries a through ball, but Tom Barkhuizen is caught offside.

Posted at 90'+5'

Attempt blocked. Josh Harrop (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 90'+5'

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

Posted at 90'+4'

Substitution, Preston North End. Daryl Horgan replaces Callum Robinson.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Ryan Manning (Queens Park Rangers).

Posted at 90'+3'

Ben Pearson (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+3'

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.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers).

Posted at 87'

Alan Browne (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Idrissa Sylla (Queens Park Rangers).

Posted at 86'

Paul Gallagher (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 86'

Attempt blocked. Josh Harrop (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alan Browne.

Posted at 85'

Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Ben Pearson (Preston North End).

Booking

Posted at 83'

Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers).

Posted at 82'

Callum Robinson (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 82'

Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Darnell Fisher.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Darnell Furlong (Queens Park Rangers).

Posted at 81'

Josh Harrop (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 79'

Attempt missed. Tom Barkhuizen (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alan Browne following a fast break.

Goal!

Posted at 74'

Goal! Queens Park Rangers 1, Preston North End 2. Callum Robinson (Preston North End) header from very close range to the bottom left corner following a set piece situation.

Substitution

Posted at 73'

Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Luke Freeman replaces Jordan Cousins.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers).

Posted at 73'

Josh Harrop (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 72'

Attempt saved. Paul Huntington (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Paul Gallagher with a cross.

Posted at 71'

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Jake Bidwell.

Posted at 71'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 70'

Delay in match Ben Pearson (Preston North End) because of an injury.

Booking

Posted at 70'

Jack Robinson (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Jack Robinson (Queens Park Rangers).

Posted at 69'

Darnell Fisher (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 67'

Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 67'

Foul by Greg Cunningham (Preston North End).

Posted at 66'

Offside, Preston North End. Paul Gallagher tries a through ball, but Tom Clarke is caught offside.

Posted at 66'

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Alex Baptiste.

Posted at 66'

Attempt blocked. Callum Robinson (Preston North End) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Darnell Fisher.

Show more updates