QPR defeated nine-man Chelsea 1-0 to notch their first home win of the season as a Heidar Helguson penalty separated the West London rivals.
Chelsea played the entire second half with nine men as Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba were both sent off in the first period of a fiery and combative game at Loftus Road.
QPR got off to an ideal start as a strong run from Helguson ended in David Luiz body checking the Icelandic international to give the hosts a penalty.
Helguson converted the spot kick despite Petr Cech doing well to get a hand on the ball.
A sublime through ball from Adel Taarabt then provided an opening for winger Shaun Wright-Phillips who set off in a foot race with Bosingwa, only to be brought down as he approached the penalty box.
In a highly controversial decision, referee Chris Foy pulled the red card from his pocket after deeming Bonsingwa to be the last man in Chelsea’s defence at the time of the foul.
With the opening half nearing an end matters got worse for Chelsea as a mindless two-footed lunge from Drogba reduced Andres Villas-Boas’ side to nine men.
The Ivorian had lost possession of the ball and was clearly frustrated as he flung himself at the ankles of Taarabt, who needed treatment following the foul.
With Chelsea playing with huge gaps in their formation, space was always open for QPR to exploit in the second half Taarabt did just that when his defence-splitting pass found Luke Young, whose right-footed shot flashed across the face of Cech’s goal.
A pair of possible Chelsea penalties were turned down late on as Frank Lampard tumbled to the ground under a challenge from Fitz Hall, while Luiz also had his appeals for a foul waved away by Foy.
Chelsea’s best and final chance of levelling up the affair fell to substitute Nicolas Anelka who missed a golden opportunity when he directed his close-range header straight to QPR goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.
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