Marc Nygaard struck a minute after half-time as QPR recorded their first home win in more than two months by beating Cardiff at Loftus Road.

The Danish striker, who was making his first start since the last home win against Norwich on October 22, rose highest to head home Lee Cook's cross from 12 yards out as Rangers claimed all three points from a disappointing encounter.

Rangers boss Ian Holloway rang the changes as his side looked for only their second win in the last 10 matches, making six switches from the side who were beaten 1-0 at Brighton on Boxing Day.

Nygaard and Marc Bircham both started for the first time since October while Matthew Rose made his first start since August in defence.

Georges Santos and Simon Royce both returned from one-match suspensions, while Cook also returned to the starting line-up in place of Lloyd Dyer, whose loan spell had finished after the Brighton game.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones made three changes from the side who were beaten 2-0 at home to Plymouth on Boxing Day, and changed his system to play Cameron Jerome as a lone frontman.

Rangers veteran Paul Furlong tried his luck in the 12th minute, but was off target, and Nygaard fired over the bar six minutes later as the home side started brightly.

However, the game then lost its fizz, and only a Jason Koumas free-kick from 30 yards which went wide offered a sight at goal for the rest of the first period.

But it was a different story after the break as Nygaard put the home side in front with his fourth goal of the season early in the second period.

That seemed to kick-start the visitors, and Koumas tried his luck again from 30 yards, but Royce was able to save, as he was when Cameron Jerome shot from the edge of the area after 57 minutes.

It was Rangers who looked the more likely from there on in, despite Nygaard limping off injured halfway through the half, as Cook had two long-range efforts miss the target, before Danny Shittu headed over from a Richard Langley corner and Shabazz Baidoo's shot was blocked by Neil Alexander.

However, the Bluebirds could have nicked a point late on as Willie Boland's 20-yard effort was kept out by Royce before Jerome headed wide of the target as Cardiff made it three games without a win.

Teams

QPR Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Rose, Langley, Bircham (Milanese 81), Rowlands, Cook (Ainsworth 72), Furlong, Nygaard (Baidoo 67).

Subs Not Used: Cole, Donnelly.

Booked: Langley.

Goals: Nygaard 47.

Cardiff Alexander, Ardley, Cox, Loovens, Barker, Boland, Whitley (Parry 80), Koumas, Ledley, Cooper (Lee 70), Jerome.

Subs Not Used: Margetson, Darlington, Ricketts.

Booked: Boland.

Att: 12,329

Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).