Brentford 1 QPR 2

Last updated : 19 April 2003 By Footymad Previewer

QPR maintained their push for promotion via the playoffs with a dramatic injury-time winner against Brentford in this West London derby at Griffin Park.

The Bees opened the brighter and after two minutes a Mark Peters free-kick was deflected for a corner.

But Rangers opened the scoring after eight minutes when a Gino Padula corner was met by the unmarked Danny Shittu at the far post who headed home from inside of the six yard box.

Ten minutes later Richard Langley fired well wide from 20 yards for the visitors and the in the 28th minute the same player saw his shot smothered by Paul Smith in the Bees goal.

Six minutes before the break Michael Dobson's long throw into the box was met by Scott Marshall, but his near post header was caught by Chris Day.

Five minutes into the second period Steve Hunt saw his long-range strike turned aside by Day for a corner, before five minutes later Ibrahim Sonko twice cleared off the home goalline.

Stephen Kelly went close to doubling the visitors' lead on 73 minutes when he fired narrowly wide and almost immediately Smith had to make a fine point-blank save form Kevin Gallen.

The Bees equalised nine minute from time when Peters scored his first senior goal for the club, calmly slotting the ball home form close range after a neat cushioned header by Stephen Evans put him clear.

On 85 minutes Evans saw his effort tipped over by Day and a minute later a Peters corner found Kevin O'Connor at the far post, but he could only head against the upright.

On the stroke of full-time a 25-yard Kevin McLeod strike hit the crossbar and rebounded to safety, but with the game destined for a draw Marc Bircham fired home a spectacular 25-yard strike to seal a stoppage-time win for Rangers.