Struggling QPR suffered a fifth consecutive defeat and are still not safe from relegation.
Adam Reach play-off chasers Sheffield Wednesday ahead at Loftus Road, where Daniel Pudil restored their lead after Idrissa Sylla’s 10th goal of the season had hauled Rangers level.
Wednesday dominated most of the first half and went in front in the 12th minute.
Pudil’s left-wing cross ricocheted into the path of Reach, who blasted in from near the edge of the six-yard box.
Sylla equalised from a similar position nine minutes later.
After Jamie Mackie exchanged passes with Ryan Manning and went down in the box, the loose ball rolled to Sylla, who fired past keeper Keiren Westwood at the near post.
But the Owls hit back just after the half-hour mark, when Pudil followed up to head home after goalkeeper Alex Smithies had managed to keep out Jordan Rhodes’ header from Ross Wallace’s right-wing free-kick.
Wallace might then have made it 3-1 had Jack Robinson not thwarted him with a last-ditch challenge after the winger had been found by Reach’s pass.
Westwood denied Sylla a second goal shortly before half-time, tipping over the striker’s header from Robinson’s long throw.
And Jake Bidwell missed a decent chance to equalise a couple of minutes after the restart by volleying over from inside the penalty area after Wednesday were unable to properly clear Luke Freeman’s free-kick.
Rangers maintained their early second-half pressure and had appeals for a penalty waved away after Westwood clattered into Mackie on the right-hand side of the area.
On-loan Brighton winger Kazenga LuaLua, brought on as a half-time substitute for the R’s, then sent a wayward effort high and wide of the target as Ian Holloway’s side appeared to run out of ideas.
The visitors remained a threat and Rhodes had a header saved by Smithies, Barry Bannan sent a long-range effort narrowly over, and Pudil headed over from Bannan’s corner.
Rangers boss Holloway brought target man Matt Smith on for the final 15 minutes and switched to three up front in an attempt to find a second equaliser.
And Smith almost snatched a point when he headed wide from Bidwell’s late cross.
QPR (3-5-2): Smithies; Perch, Lynch, Bidwell; Petrasso (LuaLua 45), Luongo, Manning (Smith 75), Freeman, Robinson (Washington 62); Mackie, Sylla.
Subs not used: Ingram, Goss, Wszolek, Ngbakoto.
This post was last modified on 17/04/2017
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This latest debacle is now testing my loyalty,after 55 years of supporting the Rs,I see little or no future In continuing with my support next season.It hurts on so many fronts,I have persuaded over the years,both my son and my two grandsons to become season ticket holders and I now feel I have let them down but next season there could well be some spare seats should anyone want them.