A quickfire brace from Fitz Hall gave QPR all three points in their Coca-Cola Championship opener with a 2-1 win over Barnsley.

The Tykes went into the lead thanks to Iain Hume's fifth-minute effort as the visitors dominated the early stages at Loftus Road.

But QPR hit back with Hall latching on to two set-pieces to put his side in control at the interval.

Hall should have completed his hat-trick but he failed to beat visiting goalkeeper Luke Steele with his second-half penalty.

Marciano Van Homoet was sent off late on for the visitors but it made little difference as the hosts held on with impressive debutant Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma controlling the midfield.

Peter Ramage, Kaspars Gorkss, Lee Cook, and on-loan Real Madrid youngster Daniel Parejo were all also handed full debuts by QPR boss Iain Dowie.

Barnsley manager Simon Davey, whose side hold more modest aspirations for the coming season than their wealthy hosts, gave debuts to Darren Moore, Mounir El Haimour and striker Hume.

Both sides had early chances with Jonathan Macken testing former Tottenham goalkeeper Radek Cerny before Mikele Leigertwood was denied by Barnsley stopper Steele at the other end.

Former Leicester striker Hume gave the Tykes a dream start as captain Brian Howard set him up to slot home from inside the area.

The visitors looked to build on their early opener with El Haimour firing an effort over the bar before QPR's on-loan Genoa midfielder Ledesma forced Steele into making another save.

Leigertwood then fired in a long-range effort but Steele was equal to it.

Argentinian Ledesma caused the visiting defence all sorts of problems with a free-kick which was slotted home from close range by Hall in the 29th minute.

Another set-piece, this time a Cook corner, just two minutes later allowed Hall to volley home a brilliant second and put the hosts ahead.

Patrick Agyemang looked to add to the Londoners' advantage shortly before the break but his effort went wide of the right-hand upright.

The former Preston striker had the first effort on target of the second half but Steele managed to make the save.

It was almost a nightmare debut for Moore after he fouled Dexter Blackstock inside the area, but Steele kept the visitors in the game as he saved Hall's penalty.

QPR continued to dominate with Ledesma forcing Steele into making two fine saves from his free-kicks.

Midfielder Leigertwood looked to put the game beyond the Tykes when he managed to get a shot away from inside the area but his effort went wide of the left-hand post.

The visitors saw their hopes of grabbing a late equaliser dealt a blow when defender Van Homoet received a straight red card for a foul on Ledesma in the 83rd minute and the Tykes failed create any further chances.

Teams:

QPR Cerny, Ramage, Hall, Gorkss, Delaney,Agyemang (Parejo 72), Mahon, Leigertwood, Ledesma (Alberti 84),Cook, Blackstock.

Subs Not Used: Camp, Connolly, Balanta.

Booked: Cook.

Goals: Hall 29, 31.

Barnsley Steele, Devaney, Moore, Foster, Hassell (Leon 85),De Silva, Howard, Van Homoet, Hume, Macken (Odejayi 85),El Haimour (Rigters 75).

Subs Not Used: Kozluk, Mostto.

Sent Off: Van Homoet (83).

Goals: Hume 5.

Att: 14,964

Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).