SCUNTHORPE 0 QPR 1

BOSS Nigel Adkins was left fuming after his shot-shy Scunthorpe side failed to break down a battling QPR defence.

Adkins' team have struggled in front of goal since winning promotion from League One - netting just three goals in five games in the Championship.

And strikers Gary Hooper and Paul Hayes were guilty of missing chances for the Iron as on-loan Tottenham playmaker Adel Taarabt netted the only goal for the Hoops after three minutes.

Adkins said: "I'm bitterly disappointed, because we should have got something from the game.

"We started badly and conceded a poor goal from our point of view.

"We were well aware about the threat QPR had from playing a man in the hole, but haven't dealt with him (Taarabt) from the throw-in.

"It changed the complexion of the game and, while we dominated in the second half, we didn't get the fortune that we needed.

"We didn't test their keeper enough either and the top and bottom of it is we've gone and got beaten 1-0."

Scunthorpe had bounced back from a shaky start to the season to record an impressive 2-1 victory over Swansea in the Carling Cup in midweek.

But their familiar jitters returned as QPR - searching for their first league win of the season under Jim Magilton - took the lead.

Taarabt slid beyond a static Iron defence before hammering the ball into the back of the net to send a timely reminder to Spurs boss Harry Redknapp about his undoubted talent.

Almost immediately after the goal, Mikele Leigertwood was denied by keeper Joe Murphy's chest after a chipped cross had found the midfielder with time and space at the far post.

With Wayne Routledge looking lively down the right, the Hoops controlled the match. Scunthorpe were forced to change their shape, operating with a three-man midfield, in a bid to stifle Rangers' play - a tactic which seemed to work.

But, although it restricted them to just one more effort - Jay Simpson firing wide after easily turning Cliff Byrne four yards out - it did not help them going forward.

The Iron's best chance of forcing their way back before the interval came in the 34th minute. Hooper and Matt Sparrow combined to send Martyn Woolford racing down the left but, after he had cut inside, his low cross into the middle was too far ahead of Sparrow, allowing defender Gary Borrowdale to clear.

Scunthorpe had plenty of endeavour but lacked quality, allowing central defenders Fitz Hall and Matthew Connolly to dominate.

The Iron were indebted to keeper Murphy for a flying save to deny Hall on the volley after an hour.

Then Leigertwood chipped the ball over the bar after Marcus Williams had failed to clear.

Sub Rowan Vine squandered the last chance by firing over from 18 yards after great work by fellow replacement Heidar Helguson.

Rangers thought they should have had a late penalty when Routledge was brought down by Murphy.

Routledge was booked for diving - to the disbelief of Magilton, who was sent to the stands for his protests.

Boss Magilton said: "I'm going to reserve judgment on the penalty decision. There has been a lot in the Press about diving this week and, if certain things are mentioned in the Press, people are going to be more aware of them.

"The assessor has maybe said 'Be careful' or 'Watch out for people going over too easily'.

"They have to be careful, though, when they are judging players as being over-dramatic because those decisions can cost you."

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