ISHMAEL Miller described the timing of his first QPR goal as ‘perfect’ after a last-gasp strike against Leicester took Rangers closer to the Premier League.

Miller, who had only just come on to replace Adel Taarabt, galloped onto Wayne Routledge’s pass to fire the only goal of the game with three minutes remaining at Loftus Road and send the Rs eight points clear.

That priceless finish was the striker’s first goal for the club, coming on his 24th birthday and six weeks after he joined them on loan from West Brom.

“The manager told me to warm up – and obviously it was a great substitution!” Miller reflected. “I’ve had chances in every game I’ve played and it was just a matter of time before it ended up going in.

“This was the perfect time to do it because we needed the three points – it was a massive win. It’s good for me to get the ball rolling and hopefully there can be a few more this season.”

With every other result at the top going in QPR’s favour, few can now doubt that destiny is on their side – not for the first time this season, they snatched all three points when they deserved no more than one.

It was thanks to two magnificent saves from Paddy Kenny, both to foil Leicester striker Yakubu, that they entered later stages on level terms, while substitute Martyn Waghorn also squandered two good opportunities for the visitors.

Kenny’s first round of heroics came on the half-hour as he reacted to a swift Foxes break by back-pedalling and flinging out an arm to push the Nigerian striker’s well-placed lob over the bar.

For Rangers, Heidar Helguson brought two good stops from Leicester keeper Ricardo in the first half, while Routledge was adjudged fractionally offside as he raced onto Taarabt’s through ball.

The Rs began the second period well and Routledge ruffled the side netting before Helguson slid in with a desperate – and unsuccessful – attempt to connect with Taarabt’s ball to the far post.

But Leicester looked the more likely winners as the game progressed and Waghorn pounced on two slips by the uncharacteristically shaky Matthew Connolly, firing both over with just Kenny to beat.

The Rangers keeper produced another fingertip save to push Andy King’s header over the bar prior to the late drama as Miller held off Sol Bamba and steered the ball beyond Ricardo, sending the Loft into a frenzy.