Midfielder Georges Santos ruined Ian Holloway's first game in charge with a devastating double to inspire the Blades to all three points at Loftus Road.

New boss Holloway had been given a huge ovation from the home fans before the start and they were still cheering at half-time as QPR held a deserved one-goal lead.

But by the end there was a chorus of boos as Rangers tamely surrendered in the second half to let in three goals.

QPR were much the better side in the first half and deservedly grabbed the lead just after the half hour.

Christer Warren's free-kick from the left saw Michel Ngonge rise highest and put in a thumping header which flew into the top corner of the net.

The best chance the Blades could muster in the first half had come in the very first minute when Shaun Murray's shot from Paul Devlin's corner was hacked off the line by Warren.

But after the break it was a very different story as Devlin took over on the right wing with a superb performance.

On 46 minutes he forced an excellent save from Ludek Miklosko after a low shot, but a minute later the scores were level.

Devlin centred again and this time Miklosko could only clear as far as Murray, who hooked the ball in from eight yards out.

On 56 minutes United had completed the comeback as the grabbed the lead.

Devlin's cross from the right fell to Peter Ndlovu whose shot was brilliantly saved by the keeper, but from the resulting corner Devlin again put the ball in and Santos got in a close-range header which squeezed into the corner.

Holloway threw on two substitutes on 63 minutes to try and turn things round but Rangers looked shell-shocked by the double blast and it was the visitors who looked more likely to add to their tally.

On 75 minutes Devlin crossed and Santos flicked a header inches wide but a minute later the victory was confirmed with the best goal of the game.

Another QPR move broke down and Devlin stormed forward before delivering a deft little pass inside the Santos who calmly slipped the ball past Miklosko.

Rangers threw everything forward in the last 10 minutes but left spaces at the back which the Blades continued to exploit and it was they who came closest before the end.

Devlin once more provided the cross and this time Laurent D'Jaffo met it with a header which was brilliantly pushed wide by Miklosko.

There was no way back for Rangers and this defeat sends them ever closer into the relegation mire.

Teams:

QPR: Miklosko, Rose, Plummer (Connolly 77), Ready, Perry, Warren, Wardley (Murray 63), Peacock, Kulcsar (Morrow 63), Crouch, Ngonge.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Baraclough.

Booked: Murray.

Goals: Ngonge 34.

Sheff Utd: Tracey, Kozluk, Murphy, Curle, Ullathorne, Devlin, Santos, Brown, Ford (Montgomery 90), Ndlovu (Uhlenbeek 90), D'Jaffo (Kelly 89).

Subs Not Used: Woodward, Suffo.

Booked: Kozluk.

Goals: Murphy 48, Santos 57, 76.

Att: 11,024

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).