Martin Rowlands' third goal of the season kept QPR's play-off dreams alive with a 1-0 win at down-and-out Rotherham.

Rowlands, 26, capitalised on some ponderous defending to coolly finish off a neat move from an acute angle after 53 minutes.

Ian Holloway's men have now lost once in 10 attempts and were just about worth the win against a Millers side who simply do not have the personnel to cut it in the Coca-Cola Championship.

However, the home side recovered from a bad start and were unlucky not have gone in at the interval 1-0 up when Shaun Barker headed just over the crossbar.

It was a different story after the restart though as Rangers underscored their clear superiority through Rowlands' clever match-winner.

Although the visitors were not at their best all afternoon, Holloway will surely have been delighted with the visitors' rip-roaring start.

However, Holloway's gameplan had to be revised once Gareth Ainsworth was replaced by Jamie Cureton following Michael Keane's rash challenge.

Ainsworth's injury paved the way for Rotherham, who will advertise their vacant managerial position in two national newspapers next week, to gain a significant foothold into the game.

Indeed, the home side fashioned arguably the best chance of a prosaic first half when Paul McLaren's dangerous free-kick found Shaun Barker ghosting in at QPR's back post.

Barker's header was well executed, but lacked the direction to trouble goalkeeper Simon Royce and fizzed inches over the crossbar.

Bad challenges and yellow cards - there were six in all - scarred this game, with good football at a premium.

But once Rangers realised Rotherham would not be broken by brute force alone, their footballing ability eventually won out.

The winning goal arrived six minutes before the hour mark and was comfortably the best move of the game.

Rowlands did well to control Marcus Bignot's through-ball before sweeping into Rotherham's penalty area. Mike Pollitt looked to have all bases covered, but Rowlands showed supreme skill to poke the ball past the Rotherham goalkeeper from the tightest of angles.

Rowlands' strike knocked the stuffing out of the home side, who never looked likely of dragging themselves onto level terms.

Moreover, it could have been even worse for the home side had Paul Furlong and Rowlands not found Pollitt in inspired form towards the final whistle.

Teams

Rotherham Pollitt, Scott, Gilchrist, McIntosh, Hurst, Barker (Hoskins 61), Mullin, McLaren, Keane, Campbell-Ryce (Griffit 75), Warne (Newsham 87).

Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Vernazza.

Booked: Keane, McIntosh, Mullin.

QPR Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Davies, Rose, Bircham (Santos 86), Ainsworth (Cureton 12), Rowlands, Cook (Sturridge 66), Gallen, Furlong.

Subs Not Used: Rossi, Thorpe.

Booked: Shittu, Rowlands, Furlong.

Goals: Rowlands 53.

Att: 5,387

Ref: T Bates (Staffordshire).