Reading missed out on a chance to go top of the Championship after Lyndon Dykes won and moved above QPR to third on a drizzly night at Loftus Road.
The visitors took the lead through Andy Carroll’s penalty after Lucas Joao was brought down in the box by Tim Erogbanum’s trailing leg in the 30th minute.
Minutes later Lyndon Dykes equalized for the R’s by nodding in Usman Kake’s low cross from a tight angle in the middle of the box.
The second half was a fast and forward affair, with both sides having chances.
Royals goalkeeper Joe Lumley was called into action twice in quick succession, making a couple of big saves to keep the hosts at bay.
QPR were awarded a penalty in the 84th minute when Iroegbunam – who scored the first-half spot-kick – was brought down by Mamadou Loum inside the box.
Scotland international Dykes stepped up and drilled home from 12 yards, sending the keeper the wrong way for his second of the match.
QPR are now two points further back in fourth, level on points with top two Sheffield United and Norwich.
The Hoops ran out the stronger side but credit goes to the Royals, who came out hungrier after the break after being outclassed in the opening 45 minutes.
The visitors showed strength and determination to come forward and pressure the hosts into some loose challenges outside the box which led to some good set-piece opportunities from favorable positions.
However, both free kicks were somehow off the mark. The second, a low and raspy strike from 30 yards from former England and Liverpool striker Carroll, fell to the wall and the feet of the QPR defenders, who were more than happy to huff and puff.
Although the winning penalty came against the run of play, referee Thomas Brammell’s decision was in no doubt.
The home crowd roared and Dykes confidently stepped up to fire home his second of the night – the league games had previously gone goalless.
Michael Bale’s side are now unbeaten in their last five league games and have claimed 13 points in the process.
Reading, meanwhile, have lost three of their last four matches against opponents inside the Championship’s top 10.
QPR head Coach Michael Bell Told:
“Injuries have forced us to show everything this week – defence, stability, work rate and quality, and I thought we were excellent in the first half.
“We started slowly in the second but then came on strong and the substitutions had an impact.
“We should be happy with the win and now go and enjoy the weekend.
“An update on Chris Wilke, he’ll be back before the World Cup so I’m imagining the Norwich and West Brom games. He’ll probably miss next week and the week after that, but I hope I think he will be back on the pitch next week.”
Reading Manager Paul Innes Told:
“It was a great game and we fought until the end but I’m disappointed. It looked like it was going to be a draw and neither team deserved to win.
“That’s the only way we got away with the penalties, the stupid decisions, Geezer wasn’t going anywhere – just keep it away from the goal.
“But we make a silly foul and the referee was always going to give it. He was poor all night.
“I don’t like losing like this. We lost a game we shouldn’t have because of mistakes.”
