Two goals from Luton Town striker Carlton Morris helped Queens Park Rangers boss Neil Critchley to a first defeat in his first home match.
Morris put the Hatters ahead with a fine low strike from the edge of the area in the 10th minute and doubled the lead early in the second half with a free kick.
Tyler Roberts flicked a header over the top of the crossbar as QPR looked to hit back, while Lyndon Dykes sent a volley wide of the post.
Alfie Doughty sealed the win with a superb effort from just outside the box with nine minutes remaining as Luton recorded their first league win at Loftus Road since October 1984.
The result moves Rob Edwards’ men from 13th in the Championship to seventh in the table and out of the play-off places on goal difference alone.
Morris had already tested the Rupees keeper with an acrobatic volley before he put the visitors ahead with a drilled strike across goal, his left-footed shot past Ethan Laird’s legs and into the bottom right. cornered.
QPR had more of the ball but struggled to find a way through a resolute Luton defence, with Elias Cheir a bright spark before the Morocco international was withdrawn midway through the second half.
Luton had scored two goals by then, with an unmarked Morris on hand to guide the ball to the back post after James Bray’s free-kick was headed by Kenneth Paul.
Morris had a hand in the third too, linking up with Doughty before the midfielder fired in a left-footed strike to complete the victory.
Rangers were top of the Championship at the end of October but a six-game winless run, which coincided with Michael Bale’s departure to Scottish giants Rangers, saw the west Londoners slide down the table and out of the play-off places. .
Critchley won his first game at Preston since his appointment ahead of a goalless draw at Cardiff on Boxing Day, but he inherits a goal-shy side that have found the back of the net just twice in nine league games. found
A fourth successive home league defeat means QPR are in worse form at Loftus Road than the 2014-15 season, when the Hoops were relegated from the Premier League.
Luton impressed with their defensive organisation, the Hatters backed up their win over Norwich three days earlier by completing a first league double at QPR since the 1984-85 season.
QPR boss Neil Critchley:
“It was a very disappointing evening. The game was decided in both penalty boxes and the goals we conceded were really poorly timed.
“The story of our night was that we failed a lot – with our last ball and decision-making. We didn’t have the luck in front of goal that you need.
“The second goal is the biggest disappointment for me because I felt at 1-0 that the second half was going to be the way it was in the first half in which we were on top. That second goal had a huge impact on the result. of the.
“When you’re 3-0 down it seems like chance after chance and you’re well beaten, but I didn’t think we were. Sane Dieng had little to do. And he hit the ball out of the ball. Pure three times.”
Luton manager Rob Edwards:
“I don’t think we were at our best. I still want more.
“But we were ruthless at one end and we defended like warriors when we had to – which these boys do really well and enjoy.
“Once we got the first goal we quieted everyone down a bit and then managed to manage it well. The second goal was well timed and it made us stay solid and take them. Gave a chance to try.
“We probably didn’t have the snap and the bite that we had against Norwich, but full credit because they’ve really made a difference.”
