Alex Neil's side took the lead in the 19th minute through a Daniel Johnson penalty, but QPR were level shortly after the hour mark when Rangers captain Grant Hall volleyed home Eberechi Eze's free-kick.

Rangers were reduced to 10 men with 25 minutes remaining when Geoff Cameron received a second yellow, as Preston looked to find a second goal.

But it was the visitors who went ahead in the 79th minute through Ryan Manning's curling effort past Declan Rudd, and Eberechi Eze put the result beyond doubt with a classy finish on the break.

Preston could have gone four points clear of seventh in the Championship with a victory following Bristol City's draw with Fulham in Saturday's early fixture.

And they were nearly 1-0 up inside the first three minutes when Sean Maguire struck the post from a tight angle after being played through by Johnson.

The Lilywhites were good value for their lead when Johnson converted his spot-kick after Marc Pugh brought Darnell Fisher down in the penalty area, and nearly doubled it midway through the first period when defender Andrew Hughes headed just wide from a Paul Gallagher corner.

Rangers, who were looking to complete a league double over Preston for the first time since the 1967-68 season, equalised against the run of play through Hall in the 61st minute.

However, Preston very nearly retook the lead when Sean Maguire's looping header rebounded off the bar in the 63rd minute, before QPR's Cameron was shown a second yellow for a foul on Darnell Fisher.

But, as the home team pushed for a win, they were twice caught out on the counter-attack and QPR held on for a third win from their last five fixtures to go 12th in the table, while Preston remained in sixth.

Preston North End boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I think we started the game great, we were really on the front foot.

"I think we haven't capitalised on our dominance in the first half.

"I don't think we worked the ball well enough in the middle, and when we did go forward, they just headed everything out.

"I thought we probably had seven or eight players who were excellent in the first half, but I think a couple of them died out in the second half."

QPR boss Mark Warburton:

"It's a really good result, we know Preston's home record is outstanding this season, they'd only lost three times at home this season.

"We were really poor, deserved to be one down, in truth it was a blessing it was only one. We didn't force a shot, didn't force a save, didn't look like creating a chance.

"Thoroughly deserved to be one down. We had to come out, change our shape, made two changes and I could have made seven.

"What a reaction from the players, what a response, we looked on the front foot, we won our duals, we looked dangerous and scored three wonderful goals."