ACCRINGTON Stanley gave QPR an almighty Carling Cup scare last night – but they were ultimately undone by their capital hosts.

Goals from Hogan Ephraim and Wayne Routledge eased the pressure on under-fire Hoops manager Jim Magilton after Stanley were unable to make the most of their early pressure at Loftus Road in the second round tie.

The Reds were far from inferior against their Championship opponents. However, Ephraim snatched a 68th-minute opener and Routledge netted a second.

Michael Symes was a handful for QPR all night and he deservedly got a consolation goal for Stanley.

After QPR striker Patrick Agyemang blasted a shot over, Stanley nearly took a shock lead.

Striker Symes unleashed a 25-yard effort that was saved by Tom Heaton.

Heaton was called into action again in the 12th minute to deny Symes for a second time before Gavin Mahon’s 18-yard shot was comfortably dealt with by Stanley stopper Alan Martin.

Jimmy Ryan then produced a decent attempt which Heaton parried.

Magilton made a double substitution at the break and within 65 seconds Akos Buzsaky blasted a shot wide before Damion Stewart put his effort over the bar from six yards.

QPR were starting to dominate and after Adel Taarabt was off-target, Buzsaky forced Martin into a smart save to deny him from 20 yards.

The home side finally broke Accrington’s resistance in the 68th minute through Ephraim.

Peter Ramage delivered the cross and Ephraim brought the ball down before producing a neat lob from 18 yards.

They nearly added to their lead only for Martin to thwart Vine.

Stanley pressed for an equaliser and Billy Kee and Dean Winnard fired efforts off target either side of John Miles being denied by Heaton before Routledge thumped home a second.

But there was still time for Symes to score a consolation.

STANLEY: Martin, Murphy (Kee 73), Edwards, Kempson, Winnard, Ryan (Turner 81), Joyce, Procter, Miles, McConville (Grant 73), Symes. Subs not used: Dunbavin, Richardson, G King, P Mullin.

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