Idrissa Sylla's late header stole QPR victory on a thrilling day at Craven Cottage.

Tom Cairney's early missed penalty gave the visitors an early reprieve, before Conor Washington made the hosts pay with a strike from 16 yards.

The Cottagers missed a series of opportunities but Tim Ream hooked them level on 46 minutes, before Sylla headed home on 87 minutes.

Fulham thought they would draw level when Lee Mason granted them a second penalty, but they emerged from the game pointless when Aluko hit the woodwork.

Chris Martin is devoid of confidence

The on-loan Derby front man looked a lone figure up front, but when he was called into action, he came up embarrassingly short.

He broke through on goal alongside Lucas Piazon, but when the ball was played to him, albeit it wasn’t the best pass, he contrived to hit the ball wide.

Many questioned why the Rams let Martin go, but at the minute he needs something to spark back his form from his top scoring seasons with Derby.

He was hauled off after 56 minutes for Matt Smith, who enjoyed a successful August leading Fulham’s line.

QPR bounced back from JFH controversy

Tussle: Tom Cairney (L) and Joel Lynch

The visitors travelled to Craven Cottage under somewhat of a storm cloud after manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was mixed up in one of the many Telegraph scandals to emerge this week.

The Queens Park Rangers boss was caught on camera discussing a fee with undercover reporters for potentially buying players from a Far East firm.

But it didn’t appear to influence Rangers, as they put in a composed performance for the west London derby, and took the lead through Washington.

Fulham are lacking a finisher

Fulham missed a plethora of first half opportunities, and that is in no way an exaggeration.

Tom Cairney’s spot-kick miss after six minutes set the tone for the hosts, with a series of shots from Sone Aluko and Cairney himself missing the target.

But even Cairney’s botched penalty had nothing on Chris Martin’s 24th minute miss, with the striker sliding wide with the goal gaping.

On 74 minutes, substitute Neeskens Kebano missed a chance to win the game when he swooped to meet Scott Malone's cross in front of goal, and headed wide. It wasn't a masterclass in finishing, put it that way.

Left-wings proved fruitful

GOAL! Sebastian Polter (L) and Conor Washington

Piazon and Washington were the most lively for both sides, causing problems for both right backs.

Fulham's Brazilian was involved in almost every move, fashioning the opportunity which Martin scuffed wide.

Washington scored, and may have had a goal even earlier had he been able to escape Odoi.

Fulham's penalty nightmare

This was mentioned above, but Fulham's inability to score a penalty quite literally was the difference at Craven Cottage.

First Tom Cairney stepped up in the sixth minute, only to see his effort kept out by Smithies.

When Lee Mason pointed to the spot in the 95th minute, one suspected they would not waste their second gift to score.

But lo and behold, Aluko stepped up and scuffed his effort onto the post to leave the hosts pointless.