Queens Park Rangers were narrowly beaten 2-1 by high-flyers Brighton and Hove Albion this evening at Loftus Road.

The opening 20 minutes was end-to-end but Brighton looked to have that edge in the final third, utilising both wings to full effect.

Ryan Manning was in the mood to have a go from range for the hosts, while Conor Washingon went on a bursting run on the half-hour mark and shot narrowly over.

Brighton thought they had taken the lead through Glenn Murray, but the striker was a yard offside as he connected with a low cross.

Manning kept up his bright first half, forcing David Stockdale into a low save after a quick break involving Washington and Massimo Luongo.

Full-back James Perch was unlucky not to open the scoring for Rangers when he connected with Matt Smith's headed knockdown, but the goal-bound shot was blocked, and as the ball came out to Luongo, he blazed over.

Brighton had the ball in the back of the net again two minutes before the break when Tomas Hemed connected with a cross, he was marginally offside. It was a very close call, not that Rangers minded.

Into the second half and the visitors started brightly, winning a number of corners in quick succession.

And just before the hour-mark they took the lead. Tomer Hemed saw a massive gap in QPR's defence - which was so high up on their own halfway line - putting Murray clean through to slot past Smithies with ease.

Several minutes later and they doubled their score in stunning fashion. Standing 20 yards on the right side of the danger area, Sebastien Pocognoli crashed home a curling free-kick over the QPR wall and in off the underside of the bar to leave Smithies with no chance.

QPR didn't give up, however, as Smith had a header well-saved and cleared for a corner. But from that corner, Smith went one better, glancing a header into the roof of the net to reduced the deficit.

Boss Ian Holloway clearly wanted at least a point, taking defender Joel Lynch off and placing striker Idrissa Sylla on with a dozen minutes to go.

Washington had a great chance to equaliser after Sylla was blocked in the box, blazing over first time when he was expected to score.

Stockdale then saved point-blank from his own player Steve Sidwell after a dangerous low cross, as Rangers upped the ante heading into the final stages.

In the fourth minute of addition time, substitute Yeni Ngbakoto had a great chance to equalise but he snapped at it and shot wide.

QPR: Smithies, Perch, Lynch (Sylla 77) Hall, Onuoha, Luongo, Robinson (Ngbakoto 65) Manning, Morrison (Freeman 65), Smith, Washington.

Subs Not Used: Ingram, Bidwell, Goss, Wszolek.

Attendance: 16,503 (3219 away fans)

Referee: Mr S Hooper

Report by Mark Ritson, at Loftus Road, for Get West London