Southampton 2-1 QPR
QPR remain looking for the first away victory in the Premier League after slipping to defeat at high-flying Southampton.
The Saints ran out 2-1 winners at St Mary's as Ryan Bertrand opened the scoring before Charlie Austin levelled with a stunner and Graziano Pelle struck to keep the home side second in the table.
Sandro made a swift return to the QPR line-up as the new-boy replaced the injured Joey Barton in midfield in Harry Redknapp's only change to the side that drew 2-2 with Stoke City.
Niko Kranjcar was rated as doubtful for this one but took his place in the starting XI after shaking off some pre-match fitness concerns.
Southampton had the better of the early exchanges and Dusan Tadic forced a fine early save from R's custodian Rob Green in front of the travelling supporters.
Redknapp took plenty of abuse from the Saints supporters having left the club following relegation in 2005 to take over at bitter rivals Portsmouth.
Sandro's return lasted just 10 minutes.
The former Tottenham Hotspur man was involved in a clash of heads and was deemed unable to continue after lengthy treatment. Karl Henry took his place.
Tadic was the hosts' main threat, cutting inside from the right flank, and he was unfortunate to give his side the lead when his goal-bound effort was deflected behind by Steven Caulker.
Saints were growing in confidence and went close again moments later when a lovely flowing counter-attack released Pelle but the striker could only find the side netting.
QPR had to wait until the 36th minute before having a shot on goal, even then it was off target, Leroy Fer blasting one high and wide into the crowd from distance.
Southampton really should have broken the deadlock before half time when Sadio Mane played a delicate pass through to Morgan Schneiderlin, however the big number four steered it wide.
Ronald Koeman must have warned his players about their wastefulness in the dressing room during the interval because they came storming out of the blocks after the restart.
And it only took them a few minutes to finally beat R's keeper Green.
Tadic played a ball across the six-yard box, which Rangers failed to clear, with Mauricio Isla dragged wide to challenge Mane.
The Saints number 10, brilliant all afternoon, played a clever backheel into the gap left by Isla and Bertrand burst into the space and smashed a low shot past Green.
Mane nearly claimed one for himself moments later, getting on the end of an inswinging corner from the right, however Armand Traore was guarding the post and hacked it away.
Redknapp immediately reacted to going a goal down and swapped Junior Hoilett for Matty Phillips to try and give the R's a bit more attacking thrust.
The subsition paid divedends as QPR equaliser in spectacular fashion.
Hoillett picked out Eduargo Vargas. The forward pushed it across to Austin in the middle, who controlled it expertly with his right before swivelling and finishing with his right.
They were on level terms for just two minutes.
A looping cross evaded the R's defence, Tadic headed back into the path of Pelle and his strike was almost as eye-catching as Austin's leveller moments earlier.
Kranjcar came close to snatching a late leveller but cruelly saw his excellent free-kick come crashing back off the underside of the bar.
At the other end, Tadic struck the outside of the post on the stroke of full-time but it finished 2-1 as an eventful second half.
QPR: Green, Traore, Caulker, Ferdinand, Phillips (Hoillett, 57), Austin, Fer, Isla, Kranjcar, Vargas (Zamora, 76), Sandro (Henry. 10).
Subs (not used): McCarthy, Hill, Onuoha, Dunne.
