By IAN BAKER at Loftus Road

NIGEL PEARSON insisted his Bristol

City were “not lucky” despite Nahki Wells haunting his former club with this old-fashioned smash and grab raid.

QPR dominated with 23 shots but Robins keeper Dan Bentley starred and then sub Wells fired home three minutes into stoppage time.

Chris Martin (above) had put City in front but Sam Mccallum levelled and it seemed as if QPR would make their dominance count.

Pearson said: “We weren’t lucky.

They were two great finishes. We were ruthless. We came up against a very good side. It took a lot of commitment to come out of the game.

“We know it was a huge effort. But today was a good example of Championship football at its best.”

Despite his remarks, Pearson will surely reflect on a 90 minutes that saw his side under constant pressure when he looks back at the tape.

Lyndon Dykes headed onto the post from Chris Willock’s 20th-minute cross, while Andre Gray was denied by the first of Bentley’s wonder saves.

City offered little but were ahead in the last minute of the half as Han Noah-massengo found Andreas Weimann and in turn set up Martin.

QPR were level 10 minutes after the restart as Cameron Pring’s poor header was seized upon by Mccallum.

In injury time, Bentley made incredible stops to thwart Willock and then Stefan Johansen before Wells burst through on the break to steal it.

QPR manager Mark Warburton said: “We need to be more ruthless. It was chance after chance.”

QUEENS PARK RANGERS: Dieng 6; Dickie 7, De Wijs 7, Barbet 6; Odubajo 7 (Adomah 65, 6), Willock 7, Johansen 7, Chair 6, Mccallum 7; Dykes 6 (Ball 81), Gray 6 (Austin 64, 6).

Unused Subs: Walsh, Thomas, Dozzell, Dunne.

BRISTOL CITY: Bentley 8; Tanner 6, Kalas 7, Atkinson 6, Baker 6 (Dasilva 46, 6); Massengo 7, James 6, Bakinson 6, Ping 5 (Semenyo 71, 6); Weimann 6, Martin 7 (Wells 62, 7).

Unused Subs: O’leary, Simpson, Williams, Palmer.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Dan Bentley. Several fine saves from the Bristol City keeper left QPR frustrated.

REFEREE: Leigh Doughty 7.