Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Millwall: Duncan Watmore scores in Lions' derby success
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Duncan Watmore's first-half strike earned Millwall victory at QPR
Duncan Watmore scored on his first start for Millwall as they triumphed at QPR to go fifth in the Championship.
Watmore, a January signing from Middlesbrough, fired home the Lions' first goal half an hour into their London derby at Loftus Road.
Millwall substitute Oliver Burke doubled their lead with a close-range finish 12 minutes from time.
Rangers debutant Chris Martin gave his side hope by heading in Ilias Chair's cross, but the visitors held on.
Neither side succeeded in establishing control during a lively opening 30 minutes, with Tom Bradshaw going close for the visitors and Chair curling an attempt just wide from 20 yards out.
But Zian Flemming found a way to unlock the QPR defence, threading a pass to Watmore on the edge of the penalty area and the forward took a touch before rifling beyond Seny Dieng into the far corner.
Millwall continued to create opportunities after the break, with Charlie Cresswell's header kept out by Dieng and Watmore almost adding a second as he fired into the side-netting.
It looked as though Burke, on loan from German side Werder Bremen, had settled the contest with his close-range finish after QPR failed to clear Flemming's throw.
However, former Bristol City striker Martin, who only joined QPR on a free transfer five days ago, reduced the deficit with eight minutes left and that sparked a spell of late pressure from the home side.
Jimmy Dunne might have salvaged a draw, but fired over in injury time and Millwall saw out the game.
Rangers, who topped the table in October, have now dropped to 16th after winning just once in their last 15 games.
QPR head coach Neil Critchley told BBC Radio London 94.9:
"The goals we conceded were really poor goals. We need to improve at both ends of the pitch.
"I felt we were the better team in the first half and created some good opportunities, then from our throw-in around the halfway line we gave the ball away, we were too wide open and from their one moment in the first half they scored.
"The second half was a bit more even. They had more free-kicks and corners and we defended them reasonably well but the one time we didn't, they scored.
"We showed a great response, with a fantastic goal and then we pushed right to the end. The players gave it their all - there wasn't a lack of effort but things didn't go for us."
Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio London 94.9:
"They always get into those little pockets with the likes of Jamal Lowe and Ilias Chair, very good players technically, so we had to make sure we marshalled those spaces and most of their shots were from distance.
"It was a great pass from Zian [Flemming]. I think he anticipated a poor pass from one of the QPR players and then it's all about his timing.
"He chose the right pass to Duncan [Watmore] and it was a fabulous finish. That's what he's come for, his goals and energy from wide.
"Then Burkey [Oliver Burke] does the same and it's nice for the two new signings to get a goal each. We looked fairly comfortable for the majority of the game."