QPR 3 Middlesbrough 0: Boro fold as penalty points QPR to victory

Boro were looking comfortable after a goalless first half but fell apart as soon as makeshift left-back Barry Robson brought down Heidar Helguson in the area three minutes after the break.

Helguson picked himself up to roll in the penalty and four minutes later Hogan Ephraim tucked in Adel Taarabt's cross to make it 2-0.

Boro were killed off on the hour when Jamie Mackie snapped up the rebound after Kaspars Gorkss's shot was blocked.

"I thought it was a smashing first half, everyone got their money's worth," said Strachan. "But in the second half only the QPR fans got their money's worth.

"They'll be feeling fantastic but we feel quite shell-shocked. Those are the mood swings you get in football."

Rangers' victory tightened their grip at the top and maintained their 100 per cent home record. They have scored nine times without reply in three games.

"They are a good side when they get in the lead," added Strachan. "There is ability there, and they had a freshness and an enthusiasm, especially in the second half. That's what you get when you score goals, and we went the reverse."

"I thought it was even Stevens, they looked a good side at times in the first half," said Warnock.

"So it was up to us to step it up a gear. I felt we could do more in certain areas and I think we mixed it up very well in the second half."

QPR: Kenny, Orr (Ramage 69), Connolly, Gorkss, Hill, Derry, Faurlin, Mackie (Smith 80), Taarabt (Buzsaky 70), Ephraim, Helguson. Unused substitutes: Cerny, Leigertwood, Agyemang, Parker.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Tavares, McManus, Wheater, Bates, Robson, O'Neil, Bailey (Halliday 79), Kink (Hoyte 55), Boyd (Lita 65), McDonald. Unused substitutes: Coyne, Miller, Arca, Smallwood.

Referee: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire).