QPR 1-2 Burton: Nigel Clough steers Brewers to victory

Burton beat QPR 2-1 at Loftus Road in what could prove to be Nigel Clough's final match as Brewers boss.

Clough, who has been given permission to hold talks with his former club Nottingham Forest about their managerial vacancy, saw goals from Luke Murphy and Lloyd Dyer put his side in control before Conor Washington pulled a goal back.

Murphy, on loan from Leeds, sent a powerful low shot into the bottom corner of the net from 30 yards on 11 minutes. It was his first goal for Burton and their first goal in five matches.

And worse followed for Rangers six minutes into the second half, when Dyer finished coolly after exchanging passes with on-loan Fulham midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen.

Washington, on as a half-time substitute, hauled QPR back into the game just after the hour mark. The striker kept his composure following a sliding challenge from John Mousinho and smashed the ball past keeper Jon McLaughlin.

But Burton held on fairly comfortably to pick up only their second win in nine league league matches which takes them out of the relegation zone.

Rangers boss Ian Holloway made two surprise changes to his starting line-up, with on-loan Brighton winger Kazenga LuaLua and Michael Doughty replacing Jamie Mackie and Ryan Manning. But they were behind after just 11 minutes thanks to Murphy's strike.

With his team having failed to create a clear-cut chance in the first half, Holloway brought on Washington and switched to two up front in an attempt to change the course of the game. Instead, Rangers switched off at the back and the lively Dyer took full advantage.

Washington eventually did have an impact - and after his goal Rangers had chances to equalise. Idrissa Sylla, who struggled up front, was unable to apply the finish after being found by LuaLua's low left-wing cross.

McLaughlin then reacted quickly to race from his line and thwart Washington after he had been put through by Massimo Luongo's through-ball.

And another LuaLua cross, this time from the right flank, was headed over by Darnell Furlong. At the other end, keeper Alex Smithies kept Rangers in the game by denying Dyer at point-blank range.

Holloway sent on Jamie Mackie and centre-back Joel Lynch went up front for the final few minutes in a desperate attempt to salvage a point. But QPR were unable to do so, with Sylla's weak header wide in injury time summing up their performance.

QPR boss Ian Holloway:

"I'm going to try to make us stronger all around and particularly up front if I can. It's a very methodical way we have to do things these days. Do our fans understand that? The ones who think we should be buying God knows who for God knows what?

"That's not how it's going to be. We're going to have to manufacture ourselves a really strong, young team. I need to bring the right sort of people in if I can. We've got lots of things spinning at the moment. Which way are they going to drop? We're not sure yet.

"But hopefully they'll give me the right sort of selection problems so I can build a team that can win different types of games."

Burton boss Nigel Clough:

"There's been an approach [from Nottingham Forest] and we'll sit down in the next few days and talk about it. I'm not going to be naive enough to suggest to you that I'm not interested in a club I've got such a long association with.

"Burton means a lot to me too. Timing in football is never good - it stinks at times. There's lots to think about and lots to talk about over the next few days.

"The most important thing was to not let it get in the way of what happened today. This game has been the priority all along."