QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2 (Agyemang 5, Vine 44)
BARNSLEY 0

BARNSLEY had a go in the second half but were eventually made to pay for two cataclysmic goals in the opening 45 minutes.

Reds boss Simon Davey handed full debuts to new signing Miguel Tininho and Diego Leon as he looked for a vital away success at Loftus Road. Michael Coulson also started the game as Kayode Odejayi, Miguel Mostto and Grant McCann dropped out.

Barnsley got off to the worst possible start inside the first five minutes as the Reds defence made a complete mess of Rowan Vine's cross and Patrick Agyemang was able to nip through and planted the ball past Heinz Muller and into the back of the net.

QPR went close to a second on 14 minutes as the Reds defence was caught out from Akos Buzsaky's corner and Dexter Blackstock rose highest but planted his header well wide of the target.

The Reds finally broke into the Rangers half on 18 minutes when Jamal Campbell-Ryce was sent sprawling by Damion Stewart. Brian Howard took the free kick but fired well over the bar from 30 yards. Marciano van Homoet managed to get in behind the Rangers defence on 19 minutes to cross well but Coulson could not divert his header on target. A minute later Tininho found himself in acres of space down the left and crossed well but Martin Devaney could not get his shot away under pressure. Leon turned the Rangers defence in knots on 23 minutes as he spun away from two challenges before finding Howard in space but the Reds skipper could not hit the target from 20 yards.

After laying dormant as an attacking force pretty much since the opening goal, Rangers finally burst into life on 42 minutes as Buzsaky broke down the left and brought an outstanding low save from Muller with a well-struck shot. The ball bounced up and somehow evaded Vine on the edge of the six yard box.

Rangers ended the first half with a goal and pretty much ended the Reds hopes a Loftus Road as Agyemang raced clear onto Blackstock's fine pass in the area. Agyemang did well to cross and gave Vine the simplest of tap ins from four yards out.

Barnsley finally had QPR on the back foot in the opening seconds after the break when Campbell-Ryce ran at the heart of the home side only to see his shot cannon away for a corner. Martin Devaney's corner was headed over the bar by Hassell.

For all Barnsley's bright play at the start of the second half, it was Martin Rowlands who could have put Rangers further in front as he led the Reds defence on a merry dance by beating five players including Muller but Stephen Foster was in the right place to kick the ball clear off the line.

Barnsley finally brought a save from Lee Camp on 53 minutes as Campbell-Ryce got in down the right and lashed the ball goalward from a tight angle but the Rangers keeper managed to parry his effort away.

The Reds had another massive let off on 55 minutes as Blackstock raced clear and looked odds on to score but for Foster's outstanding last-gasp challenge. Muller was well beaten on 57 minutes when Matt Connolly chipped the ball goalward from 30 yards but his effort dropped a foot or so over the bar. Rangers got in again a minute later when Blackstock raced through a massive hole in the Reds defence but saw his shot well parried away by Muller.

At the other end Istvan Ferenczi managed to bring a fine save from Camp on 58 minutes after letting fly from 18 yards but the linesmans' flag was already raised.

Odejayi wasted a golden chance to pull one back on 70 minutes as he attacked Rohan Ricketts' fizzing cross inside the six yard box but blazed over with the goal gaping.

Rowlands was a foot away from a third on 76 minutes after the Reds stood back and watched the midfielder shoot from Buzsaky's corner.

Campbell-Ryce then had Camp worried on 83 minutes as he let fly from 18 yards but his shot flew just wide. Rowlands did the same at the other end in stoppage time as he fired over from 18 yards.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS: Camp, Delaney, Stewart (Lee 84), Blackstock (Ephraim 88), Buzsaky, Rowlands, Connolly, Agyemang, Vine, Hall (Mancienne 79), Leigertwood.
Subs: Crowther, Balanta.

BARNSLEY: Muller, Van Homoet, Foster, Souza, Tininho, Campbell-Ryce, Howard, Hassell, Devaney (Ricketts 69), Coulson (Odejayi 54), Leon (Ferenczi 54).
Subs: Kozluk, Togwell.