The U21s saw their interest in the Premier League Cup all but come to an end as QPR completed a group double over the Whites, writes Pete Oliver.
Wanderers were beaten 4-1 by Rangers on the opening night of the season to make a losing start in Group A of the competition.
Julian Darby’s side has since drawn twice but a heavy defeat at the Toughsheet Community Stadium leaves them bottom of the table and unlikely to qualify for the knock-out stages with two games to go against Premier League 2 sides Blackburn Rovers and Southampton.
This was a tough night for the Whites who never really looked like repeating their Professional Development League win over Rangers in September as they suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.
Darby’s line-up was missing some of their regular performers, with Max Lott and Daeshon Lawrence travelling with the first-team squad for Tuesday night’s Championship clash at Charlton Athletic and midfielders Harry Leigh and Lucas Kirkpatrick both out on loan.
And bar a spell on top towards the end of the first half, the Whites were second best to a slick Rangers’ side which led 1-0 at the break and then put the tie to bed with three goals in a seven-minute burst early in the second half.
The visitors, who enhanced their own chances of progression by moving to within a point of joint leaders Southampton and Rovers, led after just five minutes when Amar Sanghrajka curled the perfect finish in off the far post.
Wanderers were at full stretch to contain the Londoners, whose pacy frontline included winger Leon Scarlett – fresh from a handful of first-team appearances this season.
But with Charlie Paye making a number of vital blocks, further damage was averted and the Whites had chances to level. A trialist winger had three good sights of goal, while Conor Lewis volleyed wide and Toby Ritchie felt he should have been awarded a penalty after getting into a dangerous position in the box.
Wanderers looked to be in the contest but a poor start to the second half put paid to any hopes of extending a three-game unbeaten run at the Toughsheet Community Stadium this season.
Josh Wright doubled Rangers’ lead after Wanderers had given up possession before Ridwan Hassan helped himself to a quick-fire brace. The first came via a big deflection but the second was another assured finish as the Whites threatened to go under.
To their credit, Darby’s side – with a number of youth-teamers coming off the bench – rallied and could at least have reduced the deficit by the end through a number of decent openings, Emile Oliver going closest when he struck a post before Ritchie brought a fine save out of substitute goalkeeper Kasey Taylor.
Wanderers now get a break from competitive action for a fortnight before going to Peterborough United for the chance to regain their momentum in the league and stay top of the table following their probable exit from one competition.
Wanderers: Lomax; Wilkinson, Paye (Evans 76), Lamb, Oliver; Trialist (Clement 68), Irwin, Mawditt (Hopkinson 76), Lewis (Rice 60); Ritchie; King (Coyne 60). Substitutes: Shillinglaw, Healy.
QPR: Warren (Taylor 55); Chadwick, McDonagh, Akindileni, Esquerdinha; Scarlett (Friel 68), Ikoroha, Sanghrajka (Trujillo, HT), Wright; Hassan, O’Brien. Substitutes: Street, Agbude, Moore, Henman.
Referee: Declan Brown
Images: Jake Horrocks