Paul Smyth scored one goal and made another as QPR claimed a third successive win to all but end lacklustre Watford's already slim hopes of sneaking into the Championship play-off places.

Smyth's clever cushioned header left Rayan Kolli with an open goal to earn a deserved interval lead and set Rangers on their way to a victory that takes them level on points with the ninth-placed Hornets.

Harvey Vale, who earlier hit the post with a curling strike, and Kolli both went close to adding to the lead either side of the interval, before the outstanding Smyth blasted in a second from close range.

Watford had barely threatened, but moments after their travelling fans had sarcastically cheered just their second attempt on target, Imran Louza's free-kick flew into the net via the slightest of deflections.

The goal ensured a nervy finish at Loftus Road but QPR stood firm through four more minutes and six minutes of added time to secure all the points.

Despite the late drama, a confident QPR, who crushed Portsmouth 6-1 in their last game, thoroughly deserved the victory.

They could have been ahead inside a minute, defender Amadou Mbengue having an effort ruled out for a foul in the build-up and that set the tone for a dominant first half from the hosts.

Watford's sole attempt on goal came from a sharp swivel and instant strike from centre-forward Luca Kjerrumgaard that was parried to safety by R's keeper Joe Walsh.

But that was just about all the visitors offered, with the movement and trickery of Vale and Smyth out wide and Kolli up front causing constant menace.

The pressure told when, a minute after Vale hit the post with a fine curling strike, his deep far-post cross found Smyth and his cushioned header gave Kolli the simplest of tasks to nod the ball over the line.

Kolli almost had a second just before the break when another long cross from the right by former Chelsea winger Vale was acrobatically turned back by Smyth, but this time Kolli was twice denied a goal by scrambling keeper Egil Selvik.

Smyth also dragged a shot just wide after cutting in from the left in stoppage time of a one-sided first half.

The Hornets briefly stepped up the urgency after the break but, although that led to an increasingly niggly game, their goal threat remained minimal while QPR continued to create chances.

Richard Kone almost benefitted from a ricochet in the box to grab a fortunate second R's goal and Vale tested keeper Selvik with a decent low strike before Smyth crashed the ball home from six yards after more good work from the outstanding Vale.

Louza's fierce strike brought the Hornets hope but some late pressure failed to bring about an equaliser.

QPR boss Julien Stephan on his side's second successive home win: "If I have to compare the two games, I prefer this one to the Portsmouth game [a 6-1 victory], even if the score is only 2-1.

"How we played today, defensively and offensively, no comparison for me. I prefer this game.

"We deserved to win the Portsmouth game, but probably not 6-1.

"If we continue to play like today, we will have a bigger chance of getting more points."

Watford boss Ed Still told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"We've given ourselves too much to do in the last part of the game.

"We've not defended the box well enough and that's one of the things we have done really well and been consistent with.

"But we've not done it today for both goals - and another chance they had. We showed a lack of quality.

"Clearly when you have to shuffle your back four game-to-game it weakens your team. That is one of the big explaining factors as to why we have struggled to defend the box."