DEAN Kiely's penalty heroics set up a precious Baggies victory as super-sub Zoltan Gera's late winner edged this scrappy Loftus Road affair in the visitors' favour.

Recalled Kevin Phillips' 16^th goal of the season three minutes after the break gave Albion the lead.

But Dexter Blackstock clawed lowly Rangers level in the 63^rd minute with his first touch just seconds after coming off the bench.

It could have got even worse for Tony Mowbray's men three minutes later when the hosts won a penalty.

But Kiely came to the rescue by superbly palming away ex-Blues hitman Paul Furlong's spot-kick.

And the Baggies made the most of their good fortune when Gera's fifth of the campaign six minutes from time ended their five-game winless run - and sent the near-3,000 travelling Baggies fans behind the goal into raptures.

Darren Carter was handed his first start in seven league games as he replaced Gera in the Baggies midfield.

Nathan Ellington dropped to the bench to make way for second top scorer Phillips while Martin Albrechtsen returned to the bench from a one-game ban.

Neil Clement (heel) and Paul Robinson (groin) both started with niggling injuries.

And Clement was in the thick of the action straight away as he spotted Robert Koren out wide on the right.

The Slovenia international controlled the pass before crossing into the six-yard box, where Lee Camp gathered just ahead of Phillips.

Rangers responded immediately when Camp pumped the ball forward.

Winger Lee Cook pounced on Marc Nygaard's knockdown to weave between Koren and Paul McShane before flashing the ball across the face of the six-yard box.

Top scorer Diomansy Kamara let fly with a fiercely struck 25-yard shot in the fourth minute but saw his effort drift inches wide of the right-hand post.

Two minutes later, Koren picked up a loose ball and sailed a dipping 30-yard volley inches over the crossbar, with Camp frantically back-pedalling.

Albion kept up the pressure when Jason Koumas' free-kick strike crept under the hosts' wall in the 12^th minute and Koren tried to deflect it past Camp, who gathered comfortably in the end.

QPR boss John Gregory was forced into a substitution in the 15^th minute when Inigo Idiakez limped off and was replaced by Steve Lomas.

The Hoops started to exert some pressure on Albion and, in the 21^st minute, lively right-winger Gareth Ainsworth burst into the box before feeding Furlong, who poked a first-time effort wide from 12 yards.

McShane had to make a vital interception in the 27^th minute to deny Furlong a tap-in from Ainsworth's right-wing cross.

Rangers threatened again six minutes from the break when the visitors needed on-loan Sam Sodje, making his second start, to head over his own goal to deny Furlong a clear chance from Ainsworth's centre.

But Albion regained some attacking momentum before the break when Carter's mishit shot fell kindly for McShane.

The Ireland defender's cross found Kamara who headed wide of the mark.

The Senegal hotshot had another headed chance moments later, this time from Robinson's left-wing ball, but he again missed the target from close range.

Mowbray made a change at half-time as Carter, who had been troubled by a groin injury he suffered in the pre-match warm-up throughout the first half, made way for Ellington, who was paired with Phillips in attack.

Kamara was switched to the right wing and Koren tucked into the centre of the park alongside Jonathan Greening.

A slip from Clement presented Ainsworth with the chance to find Furlong in the box in the 48^th minute, only for the Rangers striker to fluff his shot from ten yards.

And the Baggies punished the hosts with a swift counter-attack.

From Kiely's pinpoint throw, Koumas charged forward and threaded Phillips in on goal.

The ex-England international showed terrific composure to skip past Damion Stewart's challenge before lashing the ball past Camp from 12 yards.

Three minutes later, Phillips tested Camp with a long-range effort, which the QPR keeper just managed to palm away low to his left.

The hosts' aerial threat was still posing problems for Albion and, in the 57^th minute, Nygaard's knockdown teed up Lomas, who forced Kiely into a superb flying save with a sweet volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Gregory made a switch in the 62nd minute as Blackstock came on for Nygaard to add some pace to the Rangers forward line.

And it turned out to be an inspired substitution as Ainsworth out-stripped Robinson down the right and crossed to the back post for the former Southampton striker to head home with his first touch of the game - less than a minute after coming on.

The game looked liked turning on its head in the 66^th minute when Furlong burst through and was brought down in the area by Robinson. Referee Paul Armstrong didn't hesitate in pointing to the spot.

The QPR striker picked himself up to take the kick but saw the former Ireland stopper dive low to his right to pull off a fine one-handed save and keep the scores level.

Blackstock again went close in the 71^st minute as he powered onto Cook's left-wing corner but headed just wide of the left-hand upright.

Kiely had to be alert four minutes later when Lomas latched onto Furlong's chest down and fired a fierce effort straight at the Albion custodian, who gathered at the second attempt.

And the Baggies made the most of Kiely's excellence in the 84^th minute.

Gera, a 77th-minute replacement for Phillips, smashed a superb back-post volley into the roof of the net after great work by fellow sub Ellington.

'The Duke' had chased down Kiely's long punt and out-muscled Rangers right-back Michael Mancienne before finding Gera with a pin-point left-foot cross.

Albion then comfortably ran down the clock to head back up the M40 with all three points. 

QPR (4-4-2): Camp; Mancienne, Culip, Stewart, Bignot; Ainsworth (Ricketts 83), Bolder, Idiakez (Lomas 15), Cook; Furlong, Nygaard (Blackstock 61). Subs not used: Cole (gk), Kanyuka.

ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely; McShane, Sodje, Clement, Robinson; Koren, Greening, Carter (Ellington HT), Koumas; Phillips (Gera 77), Kamara (Chaplow 86). Subs not used: Daniels (gk), Albrechtsen.

GOALS: QPR - Blackstock (63). ALBION - Phillips (48), Gera (84).

REFEREE: P Armstrong (Berkshire).

ATTENDANCE: 14,784.

ALBION STARMAN: Dean Kiely.

(PICS BY LAURIE RAMPLING)