Kevin Gallen bounced back from a first-half penalty miss with two goals to lead QPR to a comfortable win over 10-man Watford.

Gallen's double took his side back into play-off contention, but it looked as though things might not go Gallen's way when Richard Lee saved his penalty after Brynjar Gunnarsson was sent off for handling on the line.

But Paul Furlong put the home side ahead shortly afterwards, and Gallen was on hand to finish off two crisp Rangers' moves either side of half time.

Substitute Neal Ardley pulled one back for Watford with a marvellous 80th-minute strike, but this is the Hornets' third defeat in a week and they are sliding towards the Championship relegation zone.

Rangers manager Ian Holloway and his Watford counterpart Ray Lewington made one change to their respective line-ups.

Gareth Ainsworth replaced Richard Edghill for the home side, with Watford's fit-again top scorer Heidar Helguson coming in for on-loan Manchester United midfielder Chris Eagles.

Former Watford player Lee Cook was booed by the away fans, but the left-winger had an excellent game and went close with a 25-yard effort in the first minute.

QPR dominated early on but could not make their superiority count. The main culprit was Furlong - another ex-Watford man - who missed three good chances.

In the seventh minute, he volleyed Gallen's right-wing cross over from close range, shortly before seeing a far-post header tipped over by Lee and nodding Cook's left-wing cross wide from an unmarked position.

With their first attack, Watford almost scored, and Marcus Bignot was forced to clear Johnnie Jackson's low cross over his own bar in the 18th minute.

Lee kept his side level with a fine penalty save from Gallen in the 22nd minute. Watford midfielder Gunnarsson was sent off by referee Graham Poll for handling Gallen's goalbound shot.

But Lee dived to his left to stop the Rangers skipper's spot-kick, then tipped his follow-up header onto the crossbar to keep the Hornets in it.

Despite being a man down, Watford took confidence from Lee's penalty save and began to gain territory on the home side.

They brought Ardley on for Bruce Dyer on the right as Lewington switched to a 4-4-1 formation.

Helguson, playing his first game for a month, should have done better with a header after Georges Santos was caught badly out of position from Ardley's right-wing cross.

The Icelandic striker was unmarked at the far post but sent the ball over the bar - and his team were made to pay 10 minutes before the break when Furlong gave Rangers the lead.

Neil Cox could not control Cook's cross inside his own area, and Furlong promptly drilled home his 17th goal of the season from 12 yards.

Rangers made it two in first-half stoppage time. Ainsworth took advantage of Jermaine Darlington's slip to race down the right and cut the ball back for Gallen to apply a simple finish from inside the six-yard box.

QPR increased their lead 13 minutes after the break. Marc Bircham, Gallen and Ainsworth combined superbly to release Cook, whose initial cross was cleared but his second attempt picked out Gallen, who headed in his second goal - and Rangers' third - at the far post.

Rangers took advantage of the extra space to play some of their best football of the calendar year.

The effervescent Cook was released again in the 62nd minute, and Furlong slid in to meet his cross at the far post but his effort trickled just wide.

Rangers continued to seek further goals, and Furlong was only denied his second of the afternoon by a desperate clearance by Jay DeMerit from inside his own six-yard box.

Watford knew they were beaten, but they almost scored with 15 minutes remaining. Substitute Danny Webber laid the ball off to Johnnie Jackson, whose excellent left-foot strike from 25 yards produced an even better save from Simon Royce, who pushed the ball over the crossbar.

But Watford did get on the scoresheet five minutes later, Ardley latching onto a loose ball and cracking a superb 25-yard volley over Royce.

Watford nearly scored another in the 87th minute when Rangers defender Dan Shittu sliced Helguson's cross towards his own goal.

But luckily for Holloway's side, the ball went straight into the arms of Royce.

Teams:

QPR Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Rose (Edghill 67), Ainsworth, Bircham, Rowlands, Cook (Thorpe 84), Gallen, Furlong (Miller 74).

Subs Not Used: Rossi, Cureton.

Goals: Furlong 34, Gallen 45, 58.

Watford Lee, Chambers, Demerit, Cox, Darlington (Doyley 45), Gunnarsson, Mahon, Jackson, Helguson, Dyer (Ardley 28), Bouazza (Webber 64).

Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Eagles.

Sent Off: Gunnarsson (21).

Goals: Ardley 80.

Att: 16,638

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).