Queens Park Rangers were narrowly beaten at Aston Villa tonight, thanks to Jonathan Kodjia's strike after just five minutes.

The Hoops didn't get going at all until the hour-mark at Villa Park, and they looked a lot better when Matt Smith and Conor Washington were introduced from he substitutes' bench.

Ian Holloway's men were under pressure from the off and the hosts hit the post inside just three minutes through Albert Adomah.

But they didn't have to wait long to find the back of the net - just two minutes later, in fact - thanks to Kodjia, who smashed past Alex Smithies from 12 yards.

Yeni Ngbakato nearly grabbed an immediate equaliser when his long range effort took a deflection just wide.

Rangers managed to contain Villa's bright start and the home side's momentum began to die down. Jamie Mackie nearly caught out Villa stopper Sam Johnstone with a deep cross which hit the top of the net.

The game lulled as it headed towards the break, with neither side able to create any clear chances.

Into the second half and the Hoops didn't really get going until the hour mark, forcing Villa back.

The ineffective Idrissa Sylla was taken off and replaced by Smith, and it took a few minutes for the big striker to have the Hoops' first real chance, getting up for a cross and heading just wide.

Washington also came on and all of a sudden, Ian Holloway's men looked a lot more dangerous. The striker also went close at the near post after cutting inside on to his left foot.

But their momentum waned heading into the final ten minutes, allowing Villa to sit on the ball fairly comfortably.

To their credit, QPR huffed and puffed - they didn't entirely give up.

In the second minute of addition time, Mackie had a great chance to nick a point but he scuffed an effort just inside the danger area well wide.

Holloway's men need to recover fast as they are back in action this Friday night against Brighton and Hove Albion at Loftus Road.

QPR: Smithies, Furlong (Petrasso 75), Bidwell, Onuoha, Hall, Luongo, Freeman, Goss (Washington 72), Ngbakato, Mackie, Sylla.

Subs Not Used: Ingram, Perch, Petrasso, Manning, Wszolek.

Attendance: 27,154

Referee: Peter Bankes

Report by Mark Ritson, at Villa Park, for Get West London