Queens Park Rangers 3-2 Cardiff City: Dominic Ball stunner seals Rangers win

Ilias Chair volleyed in his first goal since the opening day of the season

Queens Park Rangers claimed a first win since the opening day of the season thanks to Dominic Ball's stunning stoppage-time goal.

Substitute Ball unleashed a fierce long-range drive as the hosts responded to a creditable Cardiff fightback.

Rangers had gone without a goal in four matches but took charge of this game thanks to first-half strikes from Ilias Chair and Todd Kane.

Joe Ralls pulled a goal back from the penalty spot as Cardiff improved after the break.

Ralls then looked to have salvaged a point when he saw another spot-kick saved but converted the rebound five minutes from time.

Yet the Bluebirds were beaten on the road for the first time this season thanks to Ball's dramatic intervention.

Neil Harris' side drop to 17th as their unconvincing start to the season continues, while Rangers climb to 18th.

Mark Warburton's men looked nothing like a team who had gone seven games without a win as they put Cardiff under pressure from the outset.

Albert Adomah and Lyndon Dykes had both had sights of goal by the time Chair put Rangers in front.

Adomah, who had a spell on loan at Cardiff last season, crossed from the right and Chair's acrobatic volley bounced beyond Alex Smithies and into the far corner of the net.

Rangers' first goal in 375 minutes of Championship football was swiftly followed by another.

Joe Ralls converted his first penalty of the afternoon and then scored on the rebound after his second was saved

Chair went from scorer to provider, the Moroccan doing well to beat his man before crossing for Kane, who cut across a half-volley which flew into the top corner.

Cardiff simply did not get going in the first half, but hauled themselves back into it early in the second period as Kieffer Moore was tripped in the area by Yoann Barbet and Ralls scored his first goal of the season.

Junior Hoilett, Sean Morrison and Lee Tomlin all had sights of goal before Conor Masterson's handball led to the second penalty, which Rangers keeper Seny Dieng saved only for Ralls to score at the second attempt.

But Rangers picked themselves up and took the points thanks to Ball's memorable strike.

QPR manager Mark Warburton:

"Energy was the key for us today. We played with real intensity and purpose. We got into good areas and were dangerous.

"But it's a 90-minute game. We've got to learn from the second half, where we shot ourselves in the foot by giving away ridiculous penalties.

"From a comfortable position - we should have been 3-0 up - it's 2-2 and they're putting balls in our box. I think we deserved to win."

Cardiff manager Neil Harris:

"We got what we deserved over the 90 minutes.

"First half was the worst I have seen us in my time in charge in my opinion - outfought, outrun, too many first contacts, second balls, didn't defend the penalty area in the first half hour of the game.

"I praise my players second half - outstanding, absolutely outstanding. We bossed the game much better and looked a lot better going forward.

"People will watch the goal and think what a goal, worth winning any game. It was, but it just sums us up over the course of the first half, where the ball goes forward and somebody runs off the back of us."