Reading's Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a late penalty as QPR lost for the first time under new manager Neil Warnock.
Sigurdsson and Brian Howard went close for Reading early on but keeper Adam Federici denied Adel Taarabt while Tamas Priskin missed the target.
Damion Stewart saw red before the break after a second booking for a foul on the Rangers keeper.
QPR held out with Sigurdsson and Jobi McAnuff denied by goal-line clearances, before the Icelander sealed the win.
Jay Simpson might have put Rangers in front before Reading scored but he missed from a tight angle.
But Brian McDermott's Royals kept going and earned their eighth win in their last nine league games as they climb away from the relegation zone.
Reading manager Brian McDermott: "I thought it was a good game. There were two honest sides out there both having a real go and we were fortunate to get the result.
"The crowd were getting frustrated. We were playing against a resilient side and it is not going to be easy to break them down but we saw it out in the end.
"We have won eight out of nine now. It wasn't the most beautiful game of football but we got the result and that was what it was all about."
QPR boss Neil Warnock: "You don't often come to Reading and out-play them but we did and I have learned a lot about the players tonight.
"You can say that the red card cost us. We defended really well. Damion's first booking is never a booking in a million years. He never took his eye off the ball.
"But the second one was his own fault. What was the goalkeeper going to do other than kick the ball?
"He must have launched 100 kicks tonight so it was silly and he let his mates down."
90:00+4:13 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+2:26 Grzegorz Rasiak concedes a free kick for a foul on Matthew Hill. Carl Ikeme takes the direct free kick.
89:58 Carl Ikeme takes the free kick.
89:58 Booking The referee shows Grzegorz Rasiak a yellow card.
89:48 Foul by Grzegorz Rasiak on Kaspars Gorkss, free kick awarded.
89:13 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jay Tabb by Alejandro Faurlin. Free kick taken by Adam Federici.
88:44 Jimmy Kebe has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
88:04 Peter Ramage fouled by Jimmy Kebe, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Mikele Leigertwood.
87:25 The official flags Gylfi Sigurdsson offside. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick.
86:52 Grzegorz Rasiak challenges Matthew Connolly unfairly and gives away a free kick. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick.
86:42 Substitution Antonio German on for Tamas Priskin.
84:39 GOAL - Gylfi Sigurdsson:Reading 1 - 0 QPR Gylfi Sigurdsson scores a power penalty. Reading 1-0 QPR.
84:07 Booking Matthew Connolly goes into the referee's book for dissent.
83:34 Booking Matthew Hill receives a caution.
83:20 Foul by Matthew Hill on Gylfi Sigurdsson, Penalty awarded.
82:47 Gylfi Sigurdsson takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Kaspars Gorkss.
81:40 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Gylfi Sigurdsson played to the near post, clearance by Matthew Hill.
81:08 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Gylfi Sigurdsson, clearance by Mikele Leigertwood.
79:55 Substitution Peter Ramage comes on in place of Adel Taarabt.
78:17 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
75:36 Gylfi Sigurdsson takes a shot. Blocked by Matthew Hill.
74:39 The official flags Grzegorz Rasiak offside. Carl Ikeme takes the indirect free kick.
74:08 Ryan Bertrand takes the free kick.
74:08 Booking Mikele Leigertwood receives a yellow card.
73:56 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Grzegorz Rasiak by Mikele Leigertwood.
71:37 Floated corner taken right-footed by Gylfi Sigurdsson, clearance made by Carl Ikeme.
71:04 Matthew Connolly challenges Simon Church unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
70:52 Tamas Priskin is ruled offside. Ryan Bertrand restarts play with the free kick.
70:24 The assistant referee flags for offside against Jimmy Kebe. Mikele Leigertwood takes the free kick.
68:51 Foul by Tamas Priskin on Matthew Mills, free kick awarded. Adam Federici takes the free kick.
68:28 Foul by Grzegorz Rasiak on Alejandro Faurlin, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Carl Ikeme.
68:04 Gylfi Sigurdsson takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Carl Ikeme.
66:44 Substitution Simon Church on for Shane Long.
65:09 Ivar Ingimarsson concedes a free kick for a foul on Tamas Priskin. Adel Taarabt takes the direct free kick.
64:05 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matthew Hill by Shane Long. Direct free kick taken by Kaspars Gorkss.
61:43 Corner taken by Gylfi Sigurdsson, Mikele Leigertwood makes a clearance.
60:44 Substitution Grzegorz Rasiak replaces Brian Howard.
59:08 Hogan Ephraim takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.
58:34 Corner from the left by-line taken by Adel Taarabt, Ivar Ingimarsson manages to make a clearance.
57:45 Gylfi Sigurdsson challenges Hogan Ephraim unfairly and gives away a free kick. Carl Ikeme takes the direct free kick.
56:47 Unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff by Mikele Leigertwood results in a free kick. Brian Howard takes the direct free kick.
54:06 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adel Taarabt by Andy Griffin. Direct free kick taken by Carl Ikeme.
50:51 Andy Griffin is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Adel Taarabt delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance by Ivar Ingimarsson.
50:24 Foul by Jimmy Kebe on Matthew Hill, free kick awarded. Matthew Hill takes the free kick.
49:28 Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Shane Long goes wide of the right-hand upright.
48:50 Jimmy Kebe takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:24 The first half comes to an end.
45:00+0:09 Jimmy Kebe has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
44:05 Sent off The referee sends off Damion Stewart for second bookable offence.
43:09 Matthew Mills concedes a free kick for a foul on Jay Simpson. Free kick taken by Matthew Hill.
41:31 Brian Howard has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses left.
39:05 Hogan Ephraim fouled by Andy Griffin, the ref awards a free kick. Matthew Hill restarts play with the free kick.
37:03 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff by Matthew Hill. Matthew Mills takes the free kick.
35:56 Handball by Hogan Ephraim. Adam Federici restarts play with the free kick.
35:14 Foul by Brian Howard on Mikele Leigertwood, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Matthew Connolly.
33:51 Direct free kick taken by Matthew Mills.
33:51 Booking Booking for Alejandro Faurlin for unsporting behaviour.
33:36 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jay Tabb by Alejandro Faurlin.
31:38 Ryan Bertrand restarts play with the free kick.
31:38 Booking Damion Stewart receives a yellow card.
30:54 Free kick awarded for a foul by Damion Stewart on Shane Long.
29:46 Corner taken by Adel Taarabt from the left by-line, Tamas Priskin produces a right-footed shot from close in that goes over the bar.
28:46 Unfair challenge on Alejandro Faurlin by Shane Long results in a free kick. Matthew Hill restarts play with the free kick.
26:07 Damion Stewart challenges Brian Howard unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ivar Ingimarsson restarts play with the free kick.
23:39 Adel Taarabt takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
22:45 The referee blows for offside. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick.
21:17 Foul by Shane Long on Kaspars Gorkss, free kick awarded. Carl Ikeme takes the direct free kick.
21:05 Tamas Priskin takes a shot. Save made by Adam Federici.
20:38 The assistant referee signals for offside against Jimmy Kebe. Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme.
19:54 Gylfi Sigurdsson takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Kaspars Gorkss manages to make a clearance.
18:29 Unfair challenge on Ryan Bertrand by Tamas Priskin results in a free kick. Ryan Bertrand takes the free kick.
16:35 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Adel Taarabt, Effort on goal by Tamas Priskin from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.
15:51 Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Mills on Tamas Priskin. Free kick crossed right-footed by Adel Taarabt, clearance by Matthew Mills.
14:26 Adel Taarabt takes a shot. Comfortable save by Adam Federici.
13:21 Corner taken by Adel Taarabt from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
12:27 Adel Taarabt is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Federici.
11:52 Foul by Andy Griffin on Adel Taarabt, free kick awarded. Matthew Hill takes the free kick.
10:55 Free kick awarded for a foul by Adel Taarabt on Jay Tabb. Matthew Mills takes the direct free kick.
7:41 Short corner taken by Alejandro Faurlin from the right by-line.
6:39 Handball decision goes against Adel Taarabt. Free kick taken by Ryan Bertrand.
5:27 Unfair challenge on Shane Long by Kaspars Gorkss results in a free kick. Brian Howard fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
2:38 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jimmy Kebe by Matthew Connolly. Gylfi Sigurdsson produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Carl Ikeme.
1:55 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jobi McAnuff on Matthew Connolly. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick.
0:00 The match gets underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?