Preston 2-1 QPR: Jordan Hugill completes comeback for North End

Jordan Hugill's strike completed a Preston comeback as they beat QPR 2-1 at Deepdale for their third win in four games.

Kazenga LuaLua's sublime backheel gave the R's an advantage but Aiden McGeady's curling effort from 20 yards levelled before half-time.

Hugill's close-range winner with less than 20 minutes left was his 10th Sky Bet Championship goal of the season, while QPR midfielder Luke Freeman was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

An early Hoops penalty appeal was turned down by referee David Coote when Matt Smith collided with Paul Huntington in the box and went down.

QPR's Pawel Wszolek received Jake Bidwell's 28th-minute free-kick on the edge of the area and fired straight at Chris Maxwell through a crowd.

North End responded when Daryl Horgan's corner on the half-hour was met by Hugill and Alex Smithies displayed quick reflexes to parry the header over.

The Rs took the lead when the Preston rearguard failed to clear Darnell Furlong's 36th-minute throw-in and Brighton loanee LuaLua backheeled past Maxwell for his first Hoops goal.

Callum Robinson charged at the visiting defence two minutes before the break but dragged a low shot straight at Smithies.

But the in-form McGeady drew the Lilywhites level on the stroke of half-time after cutting inside and curling a right-footed shot past Smithies for his third goal in four games.

Ryan Manning evaded challenges on the edge of the Preston box two minutes after the restart to dart into the box and unleash a thundering effort just over.

Greg Cunningham nearly rounded off an impressive North End attacking move by dragging a low 51st-minute shot just wide.

Horgan led the charge on the hour and clipped in a teasing cross for Robinson who was denied by Nedum Onuoha's crucial challenge.

Robinson thought he had given the Preston a lead after 64 minutes when he poked Cunningham's cross home but was flagged offside.

But Hugill handed Preston the advantage by tapping home after Smithies made a brilliant save from the striker's initial 72nd-minute effort.

Bidwell denied Hugill a second moments after the restart with a key challenge, before Freeman was shown a second yellow card 12 minutes from the end.

Joel Lynch's attempted 88th-minute clearance struck the bar before Smithies smothered Hugill's follow up, and the QPR shot-stopper also denied Preston substitute Tom Barkhuizen late on but could not stop his side slipping to defeat.

Preston boss Simon Grayson:

"It was a disappointing goal to give away. A long throw into the box, unfortunately it just went through Tommy Spurr's legs and to be fair the lad (LuaLua) showed great awareness and good skill to put it in there.

"We ultimately responded well and when you've got somebody like McGeady who can do something out of nothing, it just shows the quality that the lad's got.

"Hugill got into some good areas and unfortunately didn't hit the back of the net but, for the winner, he reacted really well to lose his man and getting the first ball. He was first to react and the win gives us something to really build off."

QPR boss Ian Holloway:

"I know Luke Freeman and I don't think he put any weight on it. He's tried to ride the tackle and not hurt anybody. Apparently the ref didn't see it, the linesmen didn't see it and the fourth official's made an absolutely outrageous call and said it's a second yellow.

"If it's a stamping and it's a deliberate stamping which he clearly says he saw, why isn't that a direct red which we might be able to appeal? If someone stamps on you, I would definitely want them sent off - Luke didn't do that. How can you make such a blatant error? I just don't understand it."