QPR 2-1 Hull: Idrissa Sylla scores last-gasp winner for Hoops

Idrissa Sylla scored a stoppage-time winner for QPR as they came from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory over Hull at Loftus Road.

Sylla netted after fellow substitute Matt Smith had scored a 74th-minute equaliser to cancel out Jarrod Bowen's first-half opener for the visitors. It piled more misery on injury-hit Hull, who would have snatched a point had Smith not cleared Michael Hector's far-post header off the line in the dying moments.

The Tigers, already without striker Abel Hernandez, lost Kevin Stewart just nine minutes into his debut. Midfielder Stewart, signed from Liverpool this summer and returning to action after an ankle problem, hobbled off following a challenge on Conor Washington.

Rangers tried to take advantage of their opponents' early misfortune and Freeman missed a great chance to give them the lead after 16 minutes. Washington found space on the right and pulled the ball back for the Rangers playmaker, who side-footed wide of the target from 12 yards out.

Instead it was Hull who went ahead 10 minutes before half-time. David Meyler sent in a cross from the right and Bowen held off a weak challenge from Kazenga LuaLua at the far post before stabbing the ball under goalkeeper Alex Smithies.

With his team struggling to create chances, R's boss Ian Holloway made a change 12 minutes into the second half, bringing Smith on for the ineffective LuaLua.

Smith's aerial threat immediately put Hull on the back foot and the striker headed straight at goalkeeper Allan McGregor from Jake Bidwell's left-wing cross before also heading wide from Luke Freeman's cross from the opposite flank.

Sylla then went close to levelling shortly after also being sent on by Holloway, turning in the box and seeing a left-footed shot hit the post and then bounce off McGregor and out for a corner.

However, the equaliser came a minute later. Freeman tricked his way past Bowen on the left and delivered a perfect cross for Smith to score from close range.

Hull responded with a spell of pressure but were undone in the final minute by Sylla. A long punt forward from Smithies, who had just produced a point-blank save to deny Sebastian Larsson, bounced all the way through to Washington, who lifted the ball over McGregor before Sylla applied the finishing touch.

Hector then tried his hardest to earn Hull a point for their efforts, but Smith somehow managed to keep out to his header to preserve the victory for QPR.

The managers

Ian Holloway: "Our fans won't know that LuaLua's father passed away last night and he still wanted to play. It was tough out there for him and that's why I took him off. He blamed himself for the goal but he didn't mean to do that. He's a really good fella. On a personal level, I played the day I lost my dad and it's not easy.

"They are in a great place at the moment. That was character. James Perch did his knee and I wanted him to come off and he wouldn't come off. I should be happy about that but part of me wants to tell him off for not doing as he was told. It shows the spirit we've got. They're learning as a group and I'm loving what they're doing at the moment. I think our identity's coming. It won't be the best looking at times but we're going to build a name for ourselves for not giving in."

Leonid Slutsky: "With Kevin it was the same injury. I will not know more until we have the results of the scan. It is the same with Fraizer Campbell. It is very hard for us because we lost players before this game and now we have lost two more.

"Of course I am very disappointed. It's a very difficult time for us - a very difficult period. We played with maximum energy and showed willpower, but it is a very difficult time. We will keep on fighting. Smith changed the game. We were not very good at controlling the second ball."