Watford supersub Tommy Smith scored with his first touch as the Hornets got their promotion bandwagon back on track with a battling win over QPR at Loftus Road.

The game seemed to be heading for a 1-1 draw when Smith was thrown into the fray but the move paid instant dividends in the 70th minute.

Nick Wright slipped him the ball in the penalty area and his first-time effort on the turn beat Ludek Miklosko at the far post.

To add insult to injury, Rangers were reduced to 10 men five minutes later when Danny Maddix received his second yellow card after a tussle with Allan Smart, but even then they pushed forward looking for the equaliser they deserved.

The first half had started brightly for Rangers with Matthew Rose having a shot superbly saved by Alec Chamberlain after 33 seconds, while Iain Dowie almost put in Gavin Peacock five minutes later.

But on 16 minutes, Watford grabbed the lead with a classic 'route-one' goal. Chamberlain's long kick was merely helped on by Maddix's head before falling to Wright who scored with a vicious, dipping shot from just inside the box.

Peter Kennedy should have doubled Watford's lead on 43 minutes when he beat Tim Breacker before slipping the ball past the 'keeper but just wide of the far post.

But Rangers were taking charge, and after Peacock had tested Chamberlain with a fizzing shot from 25-yards, they got the equaliser right on half-time.

Steve Palmer was adjudged to have handled Kevin Gallen's chip, and although Peacock's weak penalty was saved by the 'keeper the ball fell kindly for Peacock to ram in the rebound.

The second half was left open as both sides looked content with what they had, and the first chance did not come until the 65th minute when Gallen's long-range shot was held by Chamberlain.

Youngster Leon Jeanne was introduced for his Rangers debut after Watford had taken the lead, and he added pace and skill to the home side's attack.

On 72 minutes, he played in Gallen whose shot was stunningly tipped over by Chamberlain, while eight minutes later he tried himself, only to curl a shot inches wide.

At the other end, Kennedy forced a fine save from Ludek Miklosko, while Smart was also denied as Watford made their extra man tell to hold on for the victory.

Teams

QPR: Miklosko, Breacker, Rowland (Jeanne 70), Morrow (Plummer 46), Ready, Maddix, Rose, Peacock, Dowie, Gallen,Murray.

Subs Not Used: Kulcsar.

Sent Off: Maddix (75).Booked: Breacker, Maddix, Rose.

Goals: Peacock 45.

Watford: Chamberlain, Bazeley, Kennedy, Page, Palmer, Robinson, Wright, Hazan (Smith 69), Smart, Johnson, Easton.

Subs Not Used: Mooney, Gibbs.

Booked: Kennedy, Page, Smart.

Goals: Wright 16, Smith 70.

Att: 14,918

Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).