Charlie Austin's 40th-minute goal proved the difference as Queens Park Rangers beat Charlton Athletic 1-0 at Loftus Road this afternoon.

QPR had the better of the first half, with Niko Kranjcar firing over the bar and Jermaine Jenas going close with a header from Danny Simpson's cross.

Ben Hamer had to be alert to parry away efforts from Austin and Joey Barton in quick succession, while Matt Phillips, who saw much of the ball in the first half, also tested the Charlton goalkeeper.

Charlton rarely ventured forward in the first half, but Jordan Cousins was denied by a good Robert Green save after 39 minutes.

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Sixty seconds later, Austin picked the ball up on the halfway line and danced around Michael Morrison before firing the ball beyond Hamer into the top of the net to give QPR a slender lead at the break.

In a low-key opening to the second half, neither side managed to find the net, although Dale Stephens came close with a header in the 61st minute for the visitors.

Barton hit a well struck free kick goalwards, but Hamer was equal to it and the goalkeeper had to be alert to hold Shaun Wright-Phillips's 79th-minute shot.

Charlton's best chance to equalise fell the way of captain Johnnie Jackson, but his 86th-minute free-kick flew over the top of the bar, much to the relief of the home fans inside Loftus Road.