Neil Warnock is QPR's fifth manager of a turbulent season
Neil Warnock made a flying start to his reign as QPR boss as the Hoops boosted their survival hopes with a fine win over promotion-chasing West Brom.
Jay Simpson struck for Rangers after Scott Carson fumbled Adel Taarabt's cross, before Matthew Connolly slotted under Carson to cap a fine team move.
The Baggies' Chris Brunt hit back with a looping header and Carl Ikeme made a string of fine saves to keep QPR ahead.
Akos Buzsaky's 40-yard free-kick then flew in to seal Warnock's dream start.
The win lifts Rangers up to 16th place but it was a dismal day for the visitors, who dropped out of the top two following Nottingham Forest's late win against Swansea.
The Baggies paid the price for their nightmare start, as rejuvenated Rangers capitalised on some poor defending to score twice in the opening 20 minutes.
606: DEBATE
We are in such a better position now although other teams below us won today
Rangerw9
Goalkeeper Carson was at fault for the first goal after he spilled Taarbat's low drive, allowing Simpson to pounce and fire home from close range.
The one-time England stopper could also have done better for Rangers' second, which slipped through his legs when Connolly converted Alejandro Faurlin's cross-field pass.
The visitors regrouped and could have pulled one back when James Morrison raced through, only to be denied by a brave stop from Ikeme.
West Brom's pressure told and they managed to pull a goal back before half-time when Brunt headed home Jerome Thomas's pinpoint cross.
The Baggies continued to press after the break and Simon Cox felt he should have had a penalty when he tumbled under Kaspars Gorkss' challenge.
But Warnock was allowed to rest easy when substitute Buzsaky's curling free-kick, which was meant to be a Cross, fooled Carson and flew in off the far post.
New QPR boss Neil Warnock: "I told them to smile. I said to enjoy it. They get paid a fortune to play football at a great club, I told them to do what they've done all week and enjoy it.
"We've only been together a few days and we're finding out about each other.
"It's nice to start with a win but I told them beforehand this game was not going to define the next few years. And still don't know who scored our first and third goals!"
West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo: "It's a team performance. We made individual mistakes but it is 11 people on the pitch.
"We started badly and, against any team, when you give away two goals in the first 20 minutes, it becomes very difficult to win.
"We said we needed to keep solid in the first 20 minutes - but we did exactly the opposite. They were terrible goals to give away."
90:00+7:17 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+6:33 Alejandro Faurlin challenges Steven Reid unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Graham Dorrans.
90:00+5:29 Shot by Ben Watson. Save by Carl Ikeme.
89:34 Effort from 6 yards by Simon Cox. Save by Carl Ikeme.
88:44 The official flags Akos Buzsaky offside. Scott Carson takes the indirect free kick.
88:02 Inswinging corner taken by Chris Brunt, save by Carl Ikeme.
85:34 Damion Stewart takes a shot. Save by Scott Carson.
83:59 Jay Simpson is caught offside. Free kick taken by Scott Carson.
83:26 Rowan Vine takes a shot. Scott Carson makes a save.
Correction - 81:43 Free kick awarded for a foul by Akos Buzsaky on Steven Reid. Free kick taken by Scott Carson.
81:43 Akos Buzsaky concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Reid. Scott Carson restarts play with the free kick.
80:47 Simon Cox concedes a free kick for a foul on Kaspars Gorkss. Matthew Hill restarts play with the free kick.
79:34 Jerome Thomas produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.
76:05 Substitution Rowan Vine on for Tamas Priskin.
74:49 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Chris Brunt from the right by-line, save made by Carl Ikeme.
74:15 The assistant referee signals for offside against Jay Simpson. Jonas Olsson restarts play with the free kick.
71:35 Jonas Olsson fouled by Akos Buzsaky, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Carson restarts play with the free kick.
70:01 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Chris Brunt from the right by-line, Ishmael Miller produces a header from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.
69:39 Inswinging corner taken by Graham Dorrans from the left by-line, clearance by Carl Ikeme.
69:27 The assistant referee signals for offside against Tamas Priskin. Scott Carson takes the free kick.
68:31 Substitution Peter Ramage replaces Adel Taarabt.
67:14 Substitution Graham Dorrans on for James Morrison.
66:10 GOAL - Akos Buzsaky:QPR 3 - 1 West Brom Akos Buzsaky fires in a goal from a long way out to the bottom left corner of the goal. QPR 3-1 West Brom.
65:41 Free kick crossed right-footed by Akos Buzsaky from left channel,
65:41 Booking Chris Brunt goes into the book.
65:31 Chris Brunt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adel Taarabt.
63:09 Substitution (West Brom) makes a substitution, with Ishmael Miller coming on for Marek Cech.
62:08 Inswinging corner taken by Akos Buzsaky from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Scott Carson.
60:04 Ben Watson has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the goal.
58:38 Substitution Akos Buzsaky is brought on as a substitute for Hogan Ephraim.
58:38 Alejandro Faurlin takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post.
58:22 Alejandro Faurlin takes a shot.
54:43 Simon Cox produces a right-footed shot from close in that clears the bar.
51:14 Chris Brunt shoots direct from the free kick, Tamas Priskin gets a block in.
51:14 Booking Alejandro Faurlin booked for unsporting behaviour.
51:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Reid by Alejandro Faurlin.
49:36 Foul by Chris Brunt on Matthew Hill, free kick awarded. Carl Ikeme takes the direct free kick.
47:56 Unfair challenge on James Morrison by Alejandro Faurlin results in a free kick. Ben Watson restarts play with the free kick.
47:36 Booking Booking for Tamas Priskin.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Half Time
45:00+3:18 The half-time whistle blows.
45:00+2:36 Booking The referee books Marek Cech for unsporting behaviour.
45:00+2:21 Marek Cech challenges Matthew Connolly unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Carl Ikeme.
45:00+1:52 Jerome Thomas takes a shot. Save made by Carl Ikeme.
45:00+1:16 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Youssouf Mulumbu by Hogan Ephraim. Direct free kick taken by Scott Carson.
43:07 The official flags Jay Simpson offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jonas Olsson.
42:41 Youssouf Mulumbu has a shot and went wide of the right-hand upright.
42:19 Chris Brunt takes a shot. Blocked by Alejandro Faurlin.
41:13 Unfair challenge on Steven Reid by Tamas Priskin results in a free kick. Ben Watson takes the direct free kick.
38:52 Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Hill on Chris Brunt. Gabriel Tamas takes the free kick.
35:22 Assist by Jerome Thomas.
35:22 GOAL - Chris Brunt:QPR 2 - 1 West Brom Chris Brunt finds the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. QPR 2-1 West Brom.
33:58 Corner taken by Ben Watson, Gabriel Tamas takes a shot.
30:29 Adel Taarabt is ruled offside. Ben Watson takes the direct free kick.
28:19 The referee gives a free kick against Youssouf Mulumbu for handball. Matthew Hill takes the direct free kick.
26:05 Chris Brunt challenges Matthew Hill unfairly and gives away a free kick. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick.
24:13 The assistant referee signals for offside against Jay Simpson. Free kick taken by Jonas Olsson.
23:18 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Ben Watson from the right by-line, Hogan Ephraim makes a clearance.
22:20 Jerome Thomas challenges Damion Stewart unfairly and gives away a free kick. Carl Ikeme restarts play with the free kick.
21:20 The offside flag is raised against Jay Simpson. Gabriel Tamas restarts play with the free kick.
17:45 Alejandro Faurlin provided the assist for the goal.
17:45 GOAL - Matthew Connolly:QPR 2 - 0 West Brom Matthew Connolly finds the back of the net with a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. QPR 2-0 West Brom.
15:55 Free kick awarded for a foul by Youssouf Mulumbu on Adel Taarabt. Matthew Hill restarts play with the free kick.
14:05 Ben Watson takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Alejandro Faurlin.
12:48 GOAL - Jay Simpson:QPR 1 - 0 West Brom Jay Simpson scores a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. QPR 1-0 West Brom.
10:34 Alejandro Faurlin takes a shot. Gabriel Tamas gets a block in.
9:51 Unfair challenge on Jerome Thomas by Alejandro Faurlin results in a free kick. Marek Cech takes the free kick.
6:10 James Morrison gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mikele Leigertwood. Matthew Hill restarts play with the free kick.
4:26 Marek Cech challenges Jay Simpson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Damion Stewart restarts play with the free kick.
1:19 The assistant referee flags for offside against Jay Simpson. Scott Carson takes the free kick.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?