Goals from Michael Smith and Callum Paterson gave Sheffield Wednesday a 2-0 victory at Loftus Road and halted QPR’s winning run.

Smith struck on 72 minutes, shortly after coming on as a substitute, and Paterson’s 88th-minute goal sealed the Owls’ win.

For the opener, Barry Bannan delivered a superb diagonal ball into the box and Smith’s glancing header went in off a post, crossing the line before Ronnie Edwards was able to clear.

Rangers, who had won their previous four Championship matches and five in a row at home, had gone close when Kenneth Paal’s free-kick hit a post.

But they rarely looked like equalising after going behind and Paterson’s well-taken goal ended their hopes of a late comeback.

Paterson was picked out by Shea Charles on the right before cutting inside Paal and sending a left-footed strike beyond goalkeeper Paul Nardi.

QPR dominated possession in the first half but Wednesday defended well and were twice denied by Nardi.

The keeper got down quickly to his left to keep out Josh Windass’ low shot after Kieran Morgan had given the ball away.

Nardi was similarly alert to hold Michael Ihiekwe’s effort – and he needed to in order to prevent the lurking Windass being presented with a tap-in.

At the other end, Morgan’s ball into the box just eluded Michael Frey before a slick Rangers move culminated in Sam Field’s shot being deflected over.

QPR threatened again early in the second half when Edwards’ header from Ilias Chair’s corner was palmed away by Wednesday keeper James Beadle.

They almost broke the deadlock when Paal’s free-kick came back off the woodwork, with Chair firing a follow–up attempt wide of the target.

Having rode their luck, Wednesday began to take control and went ahead with Smith’s sixth goal of the season.

As Marti Cifuentes’ side wilted, Paterson shot wide shortly before scoring the second.

Beadle gathered an effort from Paal in stoppage time and Rangers substitute Koki Saito saw a shot deflected wide but Wednesday comfortably saw out the final stages.

QPR were bottom of the table two months ago and looked very much like relegation material but their excellent run moved them up to ninth, just four points away from the play-off places.

However, this defeat took them down to 13th, six points behind the top six, while Wednesday – whose win was their first in four league games – are 10th.