QPR 4 Sheffield Wednesday 2: Fernando Forestieri and Atdhe Nuhiu strike but Owls end well beaten

But by that stage they already trailed 4-0 on a night when relatives of former QPR player and manager Ray Wilkins were at Loftus Road to see the hosts win on an emotional night in west London.

The hosts were 3-0 up within 15 minutes after goals from Paul Smyth, Jake Bidwell and Idrissa Sylla.

The recalled Sylla got his second – a penalty after Tom Lees had fouled Bright Osayi-Samuel – eight minutes into the second half.

Forestieri, starting a game for the first time since August, pulled a goal back for Wednesday just after the hour mark.

Nuhiu then headed in Liam Palmer’s right-wing cross nine minutes later to test Rangers’ nerves, but their early blitz proved decisive.

The opener came when Joe Wildsmith could only palm Bidwell’s left-wing cross as far as Smyth, who steered the ball into the corner of the net from 12 yards.

Then, after fumbling Bidwell’s shot, Wildsmith managed to prevent Sylla getting to the loose ball, but left-back Bidwell followed up.

Wildsmith was powerless to stop Sylla nodding in Darnell Furlong’s cross for the third.

Sylla tucked away his penalty to make it 4-0, but the Owls battled on and Forestieri fired in off the far post. Nuhiu’s finish was also emphatic, albeit ineffectual.

QPR: Smithies, Furlong, Baptiste, Robinson, Bidwell, Cousins, Scowen (Manning 67),F reeman, Samuel (Wszolek 77), Sylla (Smith 68), Smyth. Unused substitutes: Washington, Ingram, Kakay, Eze.

Sheffield Wednesday: Wildsmith, Palmer, Lees, Pudil, Thorniley, Pelupessy, Jones, Forestieri (Boyd 80), Reach, Nuhiu (Rhodes 83), Lucas Joao (Marco Matias 64). Unused substitutes: Butterfield,Baker,Dawson,Nielsen.

Referee: Oliver Langford (W Midlands).