PRESTON NORTH END 2 McGeady (45), Hugill (71) QPR 1 Lua Lua (36)

JORDAN HUGILL helped Preston fight back as they beat 10-man QPR for their third win in four games.

Kazenga Lua Lua’s sublime backheel gave the R’s an advantage, but Aiden McGeady’s curling effort from 20 yards levelled before half-time.

Hugill’s close-range winner with less than 20 minutes left was his 10th Championship goal of the season, while QPR midfielder Luke Freeman was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

A Hoops penalty appeal was turned down by referee David Coote when Matt Smith collided with Paul Huntington in the box and went down.

QPR’s Pawel Wszolek received Jake Bidwell’s 28thminute free-kick on the edge of the area and fired straight at Chris Maxwell through a crowd of players.

North End responded when Daryl Horgan’s corner on the half-hour was met by Hugill and Alex Smithies displayed quick reflexes to parry the header over.

And the R’s took the lead when the Preston rearguard failed to clear Darnell Furlong’s throw-in and Brighton loanee Lua Lua backheeled past Maxwell for his first Hoops goal.

The in-form McGeady drew the Lilywhites level after cutting inside and curling a right-footed shot past Smithies for his third goal in four games.

Robinson thought he had given the Lilywhites the lead when he poked Greg Cunningham’s cross home, but was flagged offside.

Hugill then handed Preston the advantage by tapping home after Smithies made a brilliant save from the striker’s initial effort.

Bidwell denied Hugill a second moments after the restart with a key challenge, before Freeman was shown a second yellow card.