Craig Bellamy showed no signs of his hamstring problems to help steer Blackburn into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Wales striker took his tally for the season to nine goals with a superb brace against the Coca-Cola Championship side.

Bellamy extended Blackburn's lead after Andy Todd had opened the scoring to leave the visitors facing an uphill battle they never looked like conquering.

It was just the performance manager Mark Hughes was looking for ahead of the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United on Wednesday.

The added bonus for Hughes was the display of 19-year-old German midfielder Sergio Peter, who was handed his first start and had a hand in all three goals.

There was a moment of danger for QPR after three minutes when Mauro Milanese brought down David Thompson on the edge of the area.

Peter showed good technique to whip in a dangerous free kick that went just wide of the far post.

Thompson then delivered a good cross from the right but goalkeeper Simon Royce was able to make the interception.

A wayward header by Todd put the home side in trouble in the 12th minute when he directed the ball into the path of Paul Furlong.

However, he failed to get any power on his effort and goalkeeper Brad Friedel was able to boot it to safety.

Rangers took heart from this and Shabazz Baidoo raced forward a minute later only to see Friedel turn away his shot at the near post.

Blackburn took the lead in the 16th minute after Royce did well to parry a close range half-volley from Paul Dickov.

Peter swung in the corner from the right and Todd, unmarked at the back post, sent a downward header beyond the Rangers goalkeeper.

Blackburn kept up the pressure and the visitors were being continually stretched at the back, Danny Shittu and Matthew Rose having their work cut out against Dickov and Bellamy.

And it was Bellamy who extended Blackburn's lead in the 36th minute with his eighth goal of the campaign, sending a superb volley beyond Royce and into the corner following a cross from Peter.

Scotland striker Dickov then picked up a loose ball in the 50th minute and released Peter on the left.

Bellamy raced into the area in anticipation of the cross but instead Peter tried his luck on goal and his effort went well wide of the target.

Rangers were struggling to get back in the game. Martin Rowlands found space 20 yards out in the 55th minute but saw his effort blocked by Zurab Khizanishvili.

Dickov then tried to release Bellamy but the move broke down when he was tripped by Rose.

Rose then showed good awareness to intercept a pass from Tugay to Bellamy in the 63rd minute.

Blackburn were playing some good football with Tugay pulling the strings in the middle of the park.

Robbie Savage should have added a third for Blackburn but sent his effort wide of the target from a good position.

Rangers sub Gareth Ainsworth almost pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute but Friedel did well to parry his 25-yard shot to safety.

Then Baidoo scuffed a shot from close range wide of the target before Bellamy scored his second of the game in the 86th minute with a cool finish after a through ball from Peter.

Teams:

Blackburn Friedel, Neill, Todd, Khizanishvili, Matteo, Thompson, Savage (Pedersen 77), Tugay, Peter, Dickov (Kuqi 77), Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Nelsen, Emerton.

Booked: Matteo, Neill.

Goals: Todd 17, Bellamy 36, 86.

QPR Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Rose, Milanese, Rowlands, Santos (Ainsworth 55), Langley, Cook (Donnelly 75), Baidoo, Furlong (Moore 75).

Subs Not Used: Cole, Evatt.

Booked: Milanese.

Att: 12,705

Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).