Queens Park Rangers have missed the chance to move back into the automatic promotion spots in the Championship, having been beaten 1-0 by Derby County at the iPro Stadium this evening.
Derby almost made a perfect start to the match when Patrick Bamford raced through on goal in the very first minute, but Aaron Hughes got back to make a last-gasp challenge to deny the striker.
The hosts came close again in the 13th minute when Clint Hill's clearance rebounded off Jake Buxton and flew towards goal, but Rob Green was alert enough to make a smart stop.
Green couldn't do enough to prevent Derby from getting the only goal of the match seven minutes later, however, as he failed to get enough distance on his punch, only clearing it as far as John Eustace, who nodded it past Gary O'Neil on the line.
The visitors did have a chance to level things up right on the stroke of half time when O'Neil picked out Hughes at the back post, but he couldn't get enough on his header to beat Lee Grant.
Derby made another quick start to the second half and almost doubled their lead just three minutes after the restart when Johnny Russell's ball narrowly evaded Bamford and flashed just past the post.
Joey Barton threatened for QPR at the other end just after the hour mark, working space to shoot before drawing a comfortable save from Grant at his near post.
The visitors were unable to find an equaliser in the closing stages, however, as Derby held on for a win that takes them to within one point of the final automatic promotion place.
Barney Corkhill
