In-form Reading won again at the Madejski Stadium as they ended Neil Warnock's unbeaten start as QPR manager.
Sigurdsson penalty seals sixth home league win on bounce
In-form Reading made it six Championship wins on the bounce at the Madejski Stadium as they ended Neil Warnock's unbeaten start as QPR manager.
The visitors had the best of the first half only to have defender Damion Stewart sent-off on the stroke of half-time.
The Royals capitalised and took all three points thanks to a Gylfi Sigurdsson penalty with five minutes remaining.
The victory was Brian McDermott's side's eighth win in their last nine league games to continue their climb up the table.
Sigurdsson and Brian Howard came close with early free-kicks but QPR bossed the rest of the opening period.
Warnock had fielded a very attacking side, with captain Mikele Leigertwood often left in midfield on his own as his team-mates looked to get ahead of the ball.
Fierce effort
The Rangers boss saw Adel Taarabt have one fierce effort well held by Adam Federici.
Tamas Priskin then should have put the visitors ahead when Federici could only parry a header from Kaspars Gorkss into the goalmouth but the striker blasted it over the top.
The lively Taarabt hammered a drive over the crossbar after showing a great touch before Jay Simpson added to the list of missed QPR chances.
Taarabt was again involved, and after drifting into space on the left the Tottenham loanee disguised a deft pass in behind the defence for Simpson to run onto but he could not lift the ball over Federici.
Rangers had been on top but the rest of the first half then descended into a niggly battle after Stewart was booked for a high challenge on Shane Long which had Warnock fuming on the touchline.
Both sides were guilty of some cynical challenges as the crowd grew frustrated before Stewart was sent-off in the final minute of the half for senselessly challenging Federici as the goalkeeper took a quick drop-kick.
Reshuffled
Leigertwood shifted to right-back as Rangers reshuffled for the second-half and Reading started brightly.
Jimmy Kebe hit a shot on the run straight at Ikeme before Long sent a curling effort from the edge of the area narrowly wide.
Ryan Bertrand's fizzed cross from the left evaded everyone when the merest of touches would have put the Royals ahead before Simpson missed another good chance for the visitors when he fired over from a tight angle.
Sigurdsson saw a powerful shot well cleared by Matt Hill from on the goal line as the home side continued to press - before Jobi McAnuff was denied by an even better clearance after his effort had beaten Ikeme.
But the Royals then won a penalty when Sigurdsson tricked his way into the area before being tripped and the Icelandic midfielder blasted the resulting spot-kick into the top corner.
