Queens Park Rangers boss Ian Holloway was rightly angry at the way his team conceded their first goal on the way to defeat at Cardiff City.

Up to that point it had been an even game, with Matt Smith heading the visitors in front in Wales.

But Alex Smithies saw his clearance rebound off Junior Hoilett into the net, following an underhit backpass from Nedum Ohuoha, to gift the hosts an equaliser and Sol Bamba headed what proved to be the winner in first-half stoppage time.

Nonetheless, Holloway admitted the 2-1 scoreline was a fair result and said: “On the balance of play it was a fair result. Cardiff created a lot of chances and I thought their front three were difficult to contain.

“But the game changed when we conceded the first goal. The manner of it was disappointing and we could have dealt with it a lot better. It knocked the stuffing out of us.

“The game was always going to be tough and then we go and do that. We could have snuck one at the end, but this is up there with the best Cardiff teams I’ve seen.”

Cardiff boss Neil Warnock moved to downplay his team’s promotion hopes, despite seeing the Bluebirds go three points clear at the top of the Championship table after a fifth successive triumph.

The 68-year-old has got Cardiff playing for him, but stayed cool at the full-time whistle, saying: “Our supporters will be dreaming, but I know in this league your form can turn and you can quickly lose three or four games on the spin. I’m still delighted with the result.

“If we can be in and around the top four by the end of our September and October fixtures, then I think we’ll have a decent chance of the play-offs. We’ll have to wait and see, but I thought we started sluggish. We showed character to get back into the game and scored two good goals.

“I don’t know what the supporters pay to get in here, but you can’t tell me it’s not value for money. This is a wonderful place to be right now and I’m enjoying it.”