QPR 2-1 Bristol City
Adam Baker reports from Loftus Road

There was no Christmas cheer for City as they lost out at QPR by two goals to one on Boxing Day.

After City had dominated for the first half-hour, they were undone by goals from Jay Simpson and Mikele Leigertwood.

Nicky Maynard scored a superb goal in the second half to give the visitors hope, but it wasn't to be for the visitors, who also had a strong penalty claim turned down at the death.

City started well and Gavin Williams almost netted after six minutes on his first Championship start of the season. Cole Skuse's cross was headed back out by Hall towards Williams on the edge of the box. The midfielder took aim with a driven shot from 18 yards but Radek Cerny held on.

QPR were at sixes and sevens, and a wayward Ben Watson pass had Alvaro Saborio running towards Cerny's goal. Left on his own, Saborio took too much time and was tackled by Hall.

Danny Haynes, looking lively on the right, had the next effort goalwards with a low deflected shot just past the far post. From the resulting corner, Fontaine challenged keeper Cerny and the ball dropped out towards Skuse. With his studs the midfielder stabbed the ball goalwards only for Cerny to save by his goal-line.

QPR's first foray forward led to a mistake by City that would ultimately lead to the opening goal. Wayne Routledge's cross was guided back towards his own goal by Bradley Orr, and then Paul Hartley was forced to head behind for a corner.

And from that flag kick the ball arrived at the far edge of the box with Hall. The defender whipped a cross into the box which Gavin Williams made a mess of clearing, allowing Simpson to sneak in and clip the ball over Dean Gerken for 1-0.

The goal arrived against the run of play, but QPR capitalised on a shocked City with a second goal on 40 minutes. Routledge fed the ball to Leigertwood on the edge of the area. Given too much time and space, the QPR captain whipped a low left-footed shot inside Gerken's far post for the hosts' second of the afternoon.

Liam Fontaine almost provided City with an instant response, heading straight into Cerny's arms from Jamie McAllister's raking pass.

And on the stroke of half-time Louis Carey's shot from 35 yards warmed the gloves of Cerny.

Nicky Maynard's brilliant goal gave City some hope

Simpson had a chance to wrap up the game six minutes after the restart when Routledge's pass sent him racing through on goal. Pressurised by Bradley Orr, Simpson rushed his shot and completedly missed the target.

Penalty claims for Maynard and Saborio were ignored by the official, but City were soon back in the game.

On 57 minutes Williams sent the ball towards Maynard. The City top scorer, with his back towards goal, took two controlling touches before sending a scissor-kick shot arrowing into the top corner for 2-1.

Nicky Maynard is denied a penalty when Fitz Hall brings him down

Chances dried up after that and Patrick Agyemang's shot wide from Routledge's cross was the next chance of the game on 79 minutes.

Moments later Maynard dashed on to Hartley's pass over the top and looked to be hauled to the ground by Hall. Referee David Phillips disagreed, much to the amazement of the 1,028 travelling fans.

Replacement David Clarkson had a brilliant chance to level seconds later as Maynard charged down Hall's clearance. The ball dropped kindly to Clarkson inside the box but his first time volley hit the side-netting.

It wasn't to be for City, though, despite four minutes of added on time.