Steve McClaren’s visiting side – featuring nine changes – were totally dominated early on, with visiting keeper Matt Ingram forced to turn away Spearing’s free-kick and later keep out Heneghan’s header.

Gnanduillet’s well-taken goal separated the sides at the break and it took until the hour mark for QPR to create a chance but Pawel Wszolek could not make solid contact with a teasing cross from Sean Goss.

QPR were reduced to 10 men after 70 minutes when Cousins was sent off for a second yellow card, and Spearing delivered the night’s real moment of quality late on from the edge of the box.

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