Queens Park Rangers 2-0 Scunthorpe United
Report from Loftus Road

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Scunthorpe suffered their first away defeat of the season at league leaders Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Bradley Orr and Heidar Helguson notched in the first half to settle things for Neil Warnock's team, who could have added more to the scoreline.

United did have chances but failed to take them on a miserable afternoon at Loftus Road.

The Iron were forced into three changes heading into the fixture.

Rob Jones, David Mirfin and Garry Thompson missed out through injury and were replaced by Niall Canavan, Michael Raynes and stand-in captain Sam Togwell.

Joe Murphy started in goal, with Eddie Nolan, Raynes, Canavan and Jim McNulty forming the defence.

The midfield consisted of Michael O'Connor, Josh Wright, Togwell and Martyn Woolford, while Chris Dagnall supported Jonathan Forte in attack.

The substitutes, of which there were just six, were Sam Slocombe, Andrew Wright, Cliff Byrne, Bobby Grant, Michael Collins and Trent McClenahan.

Scunthorpe started the game on the front foot, and the midfielders tried to probe the Rangers defence by sending balls into the area for Forte.

The hosts had their first chance six minutes in when Matthew Connolly stabbed an effort wide from the edge of the area and just past Murphy's right-hand post.

Adel Taarabt was next to come close, having plenty of space to curl in a 25-yard free kick which Murphy had to tip around his left-hand post.

The pressure from Neil Warnock's side continued as Taarabt went down under the challenge of Woolford, but referee Graham Sailsbury booked him for diving.

And the hosts went ahead in the 16th minute as Orr glanced home a header after Taarabt's corner from the left found him in space.

Sensing more goals, Taarabt came close again as he smashed a low drive wide from the edge of the area.

Seemingly in desperation, O'Connor had a smash at goal with a quickly taken free kick but his low drive went well wide of goal.

Murphy was drawn into a quick reaction stop on 26 minutes as he tipped out Helguson's header with one hand after Jamie Mackie's deep cross from the right.

Moments later, Nolan's volley towards goal was deflected wide for a corner. From Josh Wright's subsequent set-piece, Kaspars Gorkss headed towards his own goal but the ball hit the top of the netting.

The best Scunthorpe chance of the game so far came in the 33rd minute when Dagnall clipped Forte in, who casually clipped the ball over the top of the crossbar.

In superb style, Helguson made it two for the Hoops, as he latched on to Taarabt's throughball and controlled the ball superbly before clipping it over Murphy and into the back of the net on 42 minutes.

The former Watford striker came close again just two minutes later, arrowing a header goalwards which Murphy tipped over the crossbar.

In the only minute of first half stoppage time, McNulty managed to get into the area and drag a drive wide of goal from the left as Scunthorpe entered the break two goals down.

United returned for the second period showing a bit more intent, Woolford and O'Connor combined for a free-kick on the edge of the area which saw the former turn and drill in a low effort which Paddy Kenny had to tip around his left-hand post.

During a head to head with Mackie, who charged forward and tried to round Murphy after being clipped through before firing wide from an angle, the Iron goalkeeper was left needing treatment, but he got it and carried on.

Forte and O'Connor combined well on 65 minutes, with the Northern Ireland international's shot been deflected wide by Kenny at his left-hand post.

Forte then came close at the two linked up again, with the ex-Sheffield United man's hooked volley drawing a quick stop from Kenny.

On 68 minutes Helguson headed just wide of goal as he connected with Hogan Ephraim's cross from the left.

Then, just three minutes later, he prodded over the crossbar from six yards after being set up with a low cross from the left.

The Iron were out of luck themselves going forward though, as Forte capitalised on a slip to race clear after Wright's throughball but his tame shot drew a save from Kenny.

The visitors made their first change moments after, as Grant came on for Woolford, to add some fresh impetus going forward.

Murphy was drawn into another stop ten minutes from time, as substitute Akos Buszaky's curling effort was tipped wide by the Irishman.

There was a further Iron change shortly after as Byrne replaced McNulty and Nolan switched to left-back.

Five minutes of  additional stoppage tiime were given but Scunthorrpe struggled to create anything else of note.

United are next in action on Tuesday night when they host Sheffield Wednesday in the second round of the Carling Cup.

Attendance: 12,046 (439 away).