Preston North End 2-1 Queens Park Rangers: QPR loss dents play-off hopes
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Cameron Archer's second goal was key as Preston maintained their slim chances of a play-off spot
Preston North End's victory condemned Queens Park Rangers to a fifth defeat in a row in the Championship.
But Rangers were unlucky to lose as Emil Riis' deft touch went in off defender Jimmy Dunne for the opener.
Cameron Archer's deflected strike made it 2-0, before QPR substitute Andre Gray scored a late consolation from the penalty spot.
Mark Warburton's side slid down the table to 10th, six points off the play-offs and two ahead of Preston.
There was drama before the match as 20-year-old QPR keeper Murphy Mahoney was thrust in for his senior debut after veteran Keiren Westwood felt unwell in the warm-up, to add his name to a lengthy list of unavailable Rangers stoppers that includes David Marshall, Seny Dieng, Jordan Archer and Joe Walsh.
After a cagey opening to the match, Rangers midfielder Bartosz Bialkowski burst through from midfield, only for Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen to react swiftly to deny his shot.
Ilias Chair was next to try his luck after a great run into the box, but the Danish stopper tucked his effort past the post.
At the other end, QPR defender Moses Odubajo blocked Alan Browne's strike which followed an intricate move.
That near miss seemed to give Ryan Lowe's side the impetus they needed as Andrew Hughes whipped the ball into the area for Riis to flick it on and Dunne was unable to prevent the goal.
Riis then had to go off injured in first-half stoppage time, during which Dunne's attempt at getting revenge was thwarted by an excellent Iversen save.
Cameron Archer's deflected shot gave the Lilywhites the daylight they craved and prompted to QPR to rally themselves to get back into the game.
Iversen's goal appeared to live a charmed life as he beat away Lyndon Dykes' shot, before his commanding presence put off Gray when the striker was through on goal.
The substitute finished calmly from the spot after Sam Field was fouled in added time, but it was too little, too late.
Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe said:
"It's back-to-back wins which I'm pleased with. There were large parts of the game I wasn't pleased with, but we did create some great chances. We gave them a wake-up call at half-time and told them to get in their faces and they did that.
"I'm pleased with the goals and I thought maybe we should have had a couple more. I thought Daniel [Iversen] was deserving of a clean sheet at the other end, but it wasn't to be today."
QPR manager Mark Warburton told BBC Radio London:
"It's very frustrating. I'm pleased that we created so many chances. We have got to take them, it is as simple as that. We had three clear-cut chances in the first half and more in the second half.
"We gave away two very soft goals. I thought we looked very dangerous. We didn't get our rewards. Five goalkeepers out is somewhat unprecedented, but young Murphy [Mahoney] stepped up."