QPR 4
Smith 34,69, Lomas 59, Gallen pen 66 Crystal Palace 2
Soares 30, Morrison 43

Three unanswered second half goals from QPR condemned Crystal Palace to their fifth league defeat in six games at Loftus Road on Saturday.

For what is the only London derby in the Championship, Palace boss Peter Taylor tinkered again with his starting 11 by making four changes from the side that lost 3-2 away at Sheffield Wednesday.

Initially, the swapping of personnel worked, as the Eagles more than held their own against an in-form QPR side.

Palace took a deserved lead on the half-hour when Tom Soares bagged his second goal in successive games. Danny Granville, in at left back for the dropped Gary Borrowdale, picked out a long pass to find Jobi McAnuff.

The Palace winger darted down the wing before delivering a low cross for Soares to tap home from one yard.

Four minutes later, Rangers dragged themselves back on terms in some style. Dexter Blackstock laid the ball off for Jimmy Smith on the edge of the Palace area and the on-loan Chelsea midfielder smacked a spectacular volley past Scott Flinders.

The game continued at 100 miles per hour, and with half-time approaching Palace snatched the lead back when Clinton Morrison bundled Carl Cort's downward header over the line following Mark Kennedy's corner.

Flinders was called into action on the stroke of half-time, keeping out Smith's 12 yard strike to enable Palace to go in at the break in front for the first time this season.

After the re-start QPR were fired up and set about Palace with renewed vigour. Lee Cook, who was everywhere for the west Londoners, saw his volley flash narrowly wide of Flinders' post.

Shefki Kuqi could have settled the game for Palace in the 51st minute when Morrison's delightful ball found the big Finn in space on the edge of the area, but he could only shoot tamely at Simon Royce.

QPR pulled level just before the hour when Steve Lomas drilled his shot through a forest of legs.

Lee Cook's initial free-kick wasn't cleared and the Rangers man was allowed to cross a second time, the ball being half cleared to the former Manchester City and West Ham player.

Moments later, Palace could have gone back into the lead for the third time but McAnuff, in on goal, elected to shoot rather than square to the unmarked Kuqi.

QPR took the lead themselves for the first time in the match when Danny Butterfield saw Cook drift past him into the box - and decided to pull him down. It was a clear penalty that QPR stalwart Kevin Gallen despatched with aplomb, sending Flinders the wrong way.

Palace's misery and QPR's joy was complete when Flinders flapped at a corner allowing Smith to bag his brace and Rangers' fourth goal in the 69th minute.

Palace star man: Jobi McAnuff. The winger ran all afternoon until replaced by Michael Hughes He set up Palace's first goal and always looked willing to take on his man. Needs to be more consistent if Palace are to get out of this current rut.Palace: Flinders 6, Butterfield 5 (Freedman 69 6), Ward 6, Cort 6, Granville 6, Soares 6, Lawrence 5 Kennedy 5, McAnuff 6 (Hughes 82 5), Kuqi 6, Morrison 5