It took until the 11th minute for either side to fire a shot on goal, and it was a weak effort from George Boyd that fell straight into the hands of Robert Green.

Scott Arfield of Burnley celebrates scoring the opening goal with team mates during the Barclays Premier League match between Burnley and Queens Park Rangers at Turf Moor on January 10, 2015 © Getty Images

However, Scott Arfield gave the visitors the lead a few moments later as he skipped inside Mauricio Isla and bent a shot into the far corner.

Ben Mee should have made it 2-0 within minutes of Arfield's opener, but the left-back skewed his free header over the bar.

The miss almost proved costly as Charlie Austin rattled the post with a sweet strike from Isla's cut back, before Leroy Fer curled an effort narrowly wide as the game burst into life.

QPR were handed a lifeline in the 33rd minute when Dean Marney tripped Austin and the forward dusted himself down to slam the resulting penalty beyond the reach of Tom Heaton to make it 1-1.

Charlie Austin of QPR celebrates scoring his penalty during the Barclays Premier League match between Burnley and Queens Park Rangers at Turf Moor on January 10, 2015 © Getty Images

The Hoops almost went ahead soon after, but Heaton parried away Eduardo Vargas's powerful strike.

Having almost taken the lead, QPR then found themselves behind once more as Danny Ings kept his composure to slot the ball beyond Green after being freed by Ashley Barnes.

Ings almost grabbed his second shortly after the break, but the forward's low shot from 20 yards rolled narrowly wide of the post.

QPR then allowed Barnes too much room as he collected a throw-in and span into space, before firing a dipping volley goalwards which Green had to tip over the bar.

A few minutes later, Barnes was presented with an easier opportunity inside the area, but the forward rushed his effort as it sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.

Ings and Michael Keane both wasted late chances which could have proved costly had Heaton not tipped Steven Caulker's injury-time header over the bar, but Burnley held on to move up to 16th place.