Bournemouth striker Warren Feeney fired home his ninth goal of the season to hand QPR a setback in their bid for automatic promotion.
Feeney produced the decisive moment of the game in the 58th minute to send second-placed QPR to only their fourth league defeat of the season.
Defenders Matthew Rose and Danny Shittu failed to clear a hopeful prod through from Feeney's strike partner Steve Fletcher, allowing the Northern Ireland international to race through before calmly slotting his shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Chris Day.
Feeney was a constant threat to the Rangers defence and could easily have scored four goals prior to providing the breakthrough.
The striker missed his kick in the 20th minute after being set-up by on-loan Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Cooke, while he forced a good save from Day seven minutes before half-time.
But Feeney was unlucky not to open the scoring just a minute later when twice going close. The Irishmen saw a shot cleared off the line by midfielder Steve Palmer, then shot narrowly wide with the rebound.
QPR's best effort of the first half came from a 25-yard dipping shot from Rose, which goalkeeper Neil Moss did well to tip over for a corner, but the visitors dominated after Feeney's opening goal and will count themselves unlucky not to have earned at least a draw.
Striker Kevin Gallen went close with a flick header which had Moss beaten, while his partner in attack, Paul Furlong side-footed wide with 15 minutes remaining after being set up by sub Tony Thorpe.
Canadian midfielder Marc Bircham thought he had finally breached Bournemouth's defence seven minutes from the final whistle, but his shot was tipped onto the post by Moss and the rebound fell invitingly into the arms of the goalkeeper - much to the relief of the home side and the 8,909 crowd.