Super-sub Johnson is back to boost struggling Wednesday and provide real hope for survival

Alejandro Faurlin had scored his first goal for Rangers, with home manager Neil Warnock, the former Sheffield United chief, attempting to nudge the Owls closer to the drop.

But Soares, who played for Warnock at Crystal Palace, got one over on his former manager with an equaliser 14 minutes from time.

QPR should by then have been home and hosed as they squandered a host of chances, but Wednesday substitute Leon Clarke could then have stolen all three points at the death only to shoot straight at Rangers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

Wednesday boss Alan Irvine hailed the contributions of second-half substitutes Jermaine Johnson and Clarke, who both unsettled Rangers after coming on.

Johnson, who has been out with a hamstring problem, was involved in the build up to Soares' goal.

Irvine said: "We started well but made a couple of basic mistakes that gave QPR a bit of momentum.

"QPR have some excellent players and we were well aware of the threat they posed. We were set up to stop those threats, but we then made a couple of attacking substitutions and it paid off.

"Jermaine was not fit enough to start the game, but I knew he was an option if needed – and it was needed. Fortunately for us, the substitutions worked."

And with fellow strugglers Watford and Crystal Palace also drawing away, Irvine conceded that the Owls' battle to avoid relegation could go to the wire.

"I'm sure there will be issues to be resolved on the last day," said the Scot. "I'm hoping we won't need to be involved in all that, but obviously it is getting closer and closer.

"We had a big task when I came here. We needed to win 11 out of 23 games and had only won eight of 23 before that.

"We've now lost only one in eight but are still where we are, which shows you how tough the Championship is."

The first half was all about Faurlin, who was a 3.5m signing of the Flavio Briatore regime back in August – since when the controversial chairman has departed along with four managers.

After a slow start, the Argentinian midfielder looks to have finally found his feet under Warnock and he broke his goal duck in style in the 23rd minute.

Damion Stewart headed a high ball down to the feet of Faurlin, who lashed a half-volley into the back of the net.

Irvine gambled with 20 minutes left when he sent on Johnson in place of the ineffective Luke Varney and the substitution paid off when the speedy winger fed Spurr and his left-wing cross was nodded in by Soares at the far post.

QPR: Ikeme; Ramage, Stewart, Gorkss, Hill; Ephraim (Cook 81), Leigertwood, Faurlin, Taarabt; Simpson (German 73), Priskin (Vine 89). Unused substitutes: Cerny, Buzsaky, Balanta, Oastler.

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant; Spurr, Purse, Beevers, Buxton; Nolan, Soares, O'Connor, Potter (Clarke 72); Varney (Johnson 69), Tudgay. Unused substitutes: O'Donnell, Hinds, Jeffers, Simek, Gray.

Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).

Man of the match: Alejandro Faurlin.