Wolves missed a chance to move into the play-off positions despite having the better of their match against QPR at Loftus Road.

Carl Cort and Paul Ince had chances to break the deadlock and Scotland striker Kenny Miller saw an effort blocked on the line as Rangers held firm.

Both sides started brightly and home goalkeeper Paul Jones was forced into action after just three minutes to deny his former club.

Former England international Darren Anderton cut inside from the left channel and unleashed a swerving shot from the corner of the penalty area, but veteran Jones - who spent seven years at Molineux in two spells before joining QPR from Glenn Hoddle's side last month - was equal to it and dived to smother the danger.

The home side responded with a threatening attack of their own, but Gareth Ainsworth failed to mark his return from suspension with a goal and blazed over the crossbar when well positioned inside the box.

On-loan Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere tested Jones with a low 20-yard drive as Wolves began to take hold of the game.

Ince showed no ill effects following the back injury which had threatened to rule him out of the match earlier this week when he broke from inside his own half, jinking his way past two players, before firing narrowly wide.

Cort, who scored a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture earlier this season when Wolves ran out 3-1 winners at Molineux, wasted a great chance to open the scoring when he headed Anderton's cross wide midway through the half.

But QPR still looked dangerous on the break and Paul Furlong might have netted for the third game running had he been able to keep his shot down from the edge of the area.

Home defender Marcus Bignot blocked with his feet on the goal-line to deny Miller on the stroke of half-time.

A lacklustre second period offered little in the shape of goalmouth action as both sides battled fiercely for midfield superiority.

Aliadiere flashed an angled effort across the face of the six-yard box which Miller - fresh from notching his seventh international goal as the Scots were beaten 3-1 by Switzerland at Hampden Park in midweek - just failed to connect with as he slid towards goal.

Hoddle introduced Mark Kennedy and Rohan Ricketts with 20 minutes remaining in a bid to freshen up the Wolves midfield as Anderton and Mark Davies made way.

And Kennedy almost made an impact, teeing up Aliadiere on the edge of the box, but his shot was straight down the throat of Jones.

The result leaves Wolves one point shy of the play-offs and undefeated in their last five Championship games.

Teams:

QPR Jones, Bignot, Shittu, Rose, Milanese, Ainsworth, Langley,Bailey, Cook, Gallen (Youssouf 63), Furlong.

Subs Not Used: Thomas, Santos, Kus, Baidoo.

Wolverhampton Postma, Ross, Lescott, Edwards, Naylor,Anderton (Kennedy 72), Ince, Cort, Davies (Ricketts 76),Miller (Frankowski 90), Aliadiere.

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Lowe.

Booked: Miller, Ince.

Att: 14,731

Ref: P Armstrong (Berkshire).