Nedum Onuoha scored a late winner as Queens Park Rangers earned a 1-0 victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium this evening.

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Chances were difficult to come by in a cagey first half, but the hosts could have been ahead early on when Oliver Norwood's inviting free kick found Michael Hector, who sent a diving header wide of the post.

Reading often looked more threatening than the visitors, with Jamal Blackman dragging a shot wide after a fast break from Steve Clarke's side.

QPR struggled to cause any problems for the home side, and Junior Hoilett's tame effort straight at Ali Al-Habsi summed up a first half which lacked quality in attacking areas.

It was QPR who started the second half the better of the two sides as the visitors stepped up the tempo, before Reading almost took the lead against the run of play when Hector headed over from close range after meeting a corner.

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Moments after QPR had turned to substitute Charlie Austin to make an impact, Blackman came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in spectacular fashion with a free kick which rattled the crossbar.

Chances arrived for both sides late on, with QPR missing the chance to take the lead when Onuoha somehow managed to head over after meeting a flick-on from Austin.

Reading then came close to securing the points through Hal Robson-Kanu, who shot wide from a tight angle after sprinting clear of the visiting defence.

However, there was a late twist as Onuoha lost his marker at the back post to connect with a header which should have been easily stopped by Al-Habsi, who could only fumble the ball over the line to gift the points to QPR.