Michael Frey celebrates scoring for QPR against Luton TownGetty Images

Michael Frey scored his second goal in two starts for QPR since returning from injury

Chris Peddy
BBC Sport

Morgan Fox's fortunate winner for QPR extended Luton Town's losing run to four matches and cranked up the pressure on manager Rob Edwards.

Michael Frey gave the hosts the lead with a goal that should have been ruled out for handball before Hatters centre-back Mark McGuinness equalised with a powerful header in the final action of the first half.

Luton began the second period well but could not add to their tally and went behind as Ilias Chair's wayward effort deflected off the heel of Fox and cruelly wrong-footed keeper Thomas Kaminski to roll into an empty net.

McGuinness missed a golden opportunity to bring his team level again in stoppage time as his header just glanced the top of the crossbar on its way over.

QPR's fifth home win in a row lifts them to 13th in the Championship, while Luton stay 20th, two points above the relegation zone and having lost each of their past 10 away games.

Fortune favours Hoops as revival continues

PA Media

QPR have now won five matches in a row at Loftus Road

Kenilworth Road was the venue for QPR's first league win of the season back in August, with the Rs having to wait another three months for their second to come against Cardiff City at the end of November.

Marti Cifuentes' side were rock bottom with 11 points from 16 games at the start of that day, but a run of just one defeat in the following nine matches has lifted them to the middle of the table with a points tally closer to the play-offs than the relegation zone.

And here they played like a team with confidence and created lots of chances, but also got the luck that so often finds its way to teams on a run of good form.

After Luton keeper Kaminski tipped the in-form Jimmy Dunne's header on to the crossbar with one of the saves of the season, Frey continued to make up for lost time as he scored his second goal in two starts since returning from injury.

The Swiss striker started and finished a fluid move that involved Paul Smyth and Fox before he neatly volleyed in at the far post, though the home side were fortunate the officials did not see the ball roll down the Swiss striker's arm before he did so.

Luton's equaliser in added time of added time, McGuinness rising highest to brilliantly head in off the far post, came against the run of play but the home side had to withstand a lot of pressure as the visitors came out buoyed by their late goal.

But fortune was on the side of Rangers again as Chair's effort, after Kenneth Paal rolled the ball across to the Morocco international from a free-kick, which was going well wide of the goal, went in off the unknowing Fox's heel for the the winning goal.

The hosts rode their luck at times and put in some big challenges to deny Luton at set-pieces, while substitute Alfie Lloyd hit the post in a lively cameo as they tried to see the game out.

McGuinness almost repeated his first-half heroics as he was found again at a corner as the match entered seven minutes of added time but the centre-back's header just kissed the crossbar on its way over, as QPR held on to claim all three points.

Luton woes deepen with 10th consecutive loss on the road

PA Media

Rob Edwards' Luton side have lost each of their past 10 away matches in the Championship

Luton boss Edwards made three changes to his side beaten at home by Norwich City on New Year's Day, with striker Elijah Adebayo dropping to bench and the surprise inclusion of midfielder Lamine Fanne, making his first appearance for the club.

Edwards' side always looked a threat from set-pieces through the towering headers of McGuinness but struggled to create from open play and will feel aggrieved not to have heard the whistle against the opening goal.

The Hatters have not picked up a single point on their travels since a 1-0 win at Millwall on Saturday, 14 September.

Even more worryingly for Edwards, his side have now lost four games in a row and are just two points above the relegation zone, when many tipped them to push for automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

But instead he had to endure chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from jubilant home fans on another miserable Championship outing for the visitors.

'The footballing gods are against us' - reaction

QPR manager Marti Cifuentes said:

"It was an important win for us but I would say despite some challenges and suffering at the end it was deserved.

"We started the game really well, the way we played encouraged me a lot. We took the lead and it was very disappointing to concede that goal before half-time. We know Luton are one of the best teams at set-pieces.

"The goal was a bit lucky but when I look at the chances we created before and after we deserved it. We suffered a bit at the end because we didn't get the third goal. But it's credit to the players.

"Now we have to keep going. There is no room for complacency."

Luton boss Rob Edwards said:

"We've had some big chances ourselves, but it's another game sitting here saying the same sort of things.

"They got a really fortuitous goal. You're looking up to the heavens at that point. Every week on the road we seem to be getting hit and hit and hit.

"Things have gone against us recently. It just seems the footballing gods are against us.

"The results are not good enough. The players are giving everything, but we are in a results business."

Related topics