By David McIntyre GYLFI Sigurdsson s late penalty condemned QPR to their first defeat under Neil Warnock. Ten-man Rangers dug in after the sending off of Damion Stewart and looked set for a deserved point before Sigurdsson netted from the spot after Matt

By David McIntyre

GYLFI Sigurdsson's late penalty condemned QPR to their first defeat under Neil Warnock.

Ten-man Rangers dug in after the sending off of Damion Stewart and looked set for a deserved point before Sigurdsson netted from the spot after Matt Hill had brought down Jimmy Kebe.

Stewart was given his marching orders in the closing stages of the first half, but Warnock's side withstood heavy pressure with first Hill and then Matt Connolly producing brilliant goalline clearances.

But the Rs, who recently went 23 matches without a clean sheet, were denied their second shut-out in three games by a goal that gave Reading a sixth successive home victory.

Warnock named an unchanged line-up for the fourth consecutive match, with on-striker Marcus Bent again missing out.

That meant another start for Tamas Priskin, who wasted a great chance to put Rangers ahead midway through the first half.

Kaspars' Gorkss' far-post header from Adel Taarabt's left-wing corner was parried by Royals keeper Adam Federici, and during the resulting goalmouth scramble Priskin blasted over from close range.

Taarabt fired wide and had another saved by Federici, while Brian Howard went close for Reading with a free-kick that went narrowly wide.

Playing behind the front two, Taarabt caused Reading problems throughout the opening period and tried his luck again with a 25-yard shot that flew over.

Taarabt then produced a brilliant piece of skill to squirm away from Howard and send a perfectly-weighted pass with the outside of his right foot into the path of Jay Simpson, who shot straight at Federici.

Rangers were on top but were dealt a major blow when Stewart, yellow-carded for an earlier foul on Shane Long, obstructed Federici from making a quick clearance and was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Reading predictably made a determined start to the second half and Kebe brought a save from Carl Ikeme, before Long cut in from the left and shot wide.

QPR continued to look dangerous, though, and Reading had a lucky escape when Federici failed to hold Hogan Ephraim's 30-yard effort and Simpson pounced on the rebound but lifted the ball high and wide from an almost impossible angle.

The home side struggled to create chances but went mightily close when Ryan Bertrand's 76th-minute drive was headed out from under the crossbar by Hill.

And Connolly pulled off an even better clearance, heroically keeping out Jobi McAnuff's 10-yard thunderbolt.

But Ikeme was unable to save Rangers after Kebe went down under Hill's challenge with six minutes remaining.

The on-loan Wolves man went the right way, but Sigurdsson's fiercely-struck spot-kick gave him little chance.