Massimo Luongo's goal was his first at Loftus Road since September
Massimo Luongo's late equaliser earned QPR a point against Derby and extended the Rams' winless run to six games.
QPR had the stronger early chances, with Matt Smith volleying a shot against the crossbar.
But the hosts fell behind when Andreas Weimann fired in after a clever run and through ball from Kasey Palmer.
Alex Smithies brilliantly kept out Rams defender Curtis Davies' header before Luongo powerfully headed Luke Freeman's free-kick into Scott Carson's goal.
Joel Lynch could have won all three points for the hosts in the final minute of added time, but he was unable to hit the target after being played through on goal.
Derby are now just four points ahead of seventh-placed Bristol City, and their night was worsened by a pair of injuries to key players.
Wales midfielder Joe Ledley was forced off inside the opening 15 minutes after going down under a challenge, while forward David Nugent was taken off with a back injury in the second half.
Despite Lynch's late miss, Ian Holloway's QPR look increasingly likely to be playing Championship football again next season as Luongo's header took them 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
QPR manager Ian Holloway:
"We've got the last quarter of the season left and I've got some wonderfully talented young lads. They've got to learn the game.
"Some of these young lads have already shown they've got bundles of ability. It's now about getting them to believe in it and win us some games and get some more points.
"All can I ask of them is to keep going and they've done that."
Derby boss Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Derby:
"We're making silly mistakes at the wrong time. I think our overall performance has to be better than that tonight, but we've played badly before and we've won the game.
"If you see the game out and you defend for the full 90 minutes, you win the game, you keep the clean sheet, we all go home happy and we're not really bothered how we played.
"The reality is because we've conceded a poor goal the fact that we haven't played very well becomes more important."
- Published1 March 2018
