Full-time: Bristol City 1 Queens Park Rangers 0

Nicky Maynard continued his rich vein of form to deliver Bristol City’s second home victory in the space of four days.

Having poached a last-gasp winner against Crystal Palace on Saturday, the livewire striker found himself in the right place at the right time to shoot down QPR with a brilliant strike 12 minutes from time.

His third goal of the season extended City’s unbeaten run to three games and ensured they registered a first success over the Londoners in five attempts since regaining their Championship status two seasons ago.

But City’s triumph was marred by the injury which cruelly cut short Andrius Velicka’s debut.

Signed on a season-long loan from Glasgow Rangers at the weekend, the Lithuanian international striker was introduced as a 65th minute replacement for Jamie McAllister as home boss Gary Johnson shuffled his pack in search of a goal.

He had been on the field for only five minutes when he collapsed to the deck in the act of twisting. Velicka lay prostrate for several minutes before being carried off wearing a leg brace.

Just when it looked as though Rangers were going to secure their third draw of the campaign, Maynard popped up inside the penalty area re-write the script.

Scottish forward David Clarkson threw himself into a crunching challenge, the ball spun loose to Maynard, who sent a rasping drive into the roof of the net from 16 yards out to bring City fans to life.

Contests between these two sides have invariably given rise to rich entertainment in recent times and this latest meeting proved no exception.

Restored to the starting line-up after missing Saturday’s game against Palace through suspension, Danny Haynes was immediately to the fore, shooting narrowly over the bar after being set free by strike partner Maynard.

Rangers were also prepared to move the ball at pace and a smart inter-change between Mikele Leigertwood and Akos Buzsaky invited Patrick Agyemang to fire over from 20 yards. Buzsaky then followed suit from a similar position when the visitors next attacked.

But it was Bristol City who carried the bigger threat and they almost went ahead on 14 minutes, McAllister catching Rangers napping with a quickly-taken free kick which picked out Maynard, whose first-time shot was saved on the line by a full-stretch Radek Cerny.

The home side went closer still when McAllister swung over a corner towards the far post and Marvin Elliott’s header forced Buzsaky into a desperate goal-line clearance.

Chances continued to materialise in front of the Wedlock Stand and Haynes should have done better when sent clear by Bradley Orr, skipping free of the defensive cover only to send his shot skidding beyond the far post with Cerny exposed.

There was a fluency to City’s play which was pleasing on the eye, but for all their dominance, they still lacked the killer touch required to unlock a stubborn defence. Paul Hartley blazed over from the edge of the penalty area, David Clarkson had a powerfully-struck shot charged down and Haynes was wide of the mark when opportunity again came knocking.

Having successfully weathered the storm, Rangers effectively took the sting out of the game and, in the process, quietened the crowd. City’s rhythm was hardly helped by the injury which forced Cole Skuse to limp off and be replaced by Liam Fontaine shortly before the interval.

Rangers emerged for the second half in more purposeful mood and conjured their first shot on target on 48 minutes, Wayne Routledge testing Dean Gerken at his near post.

Routledge again featured prominently when skipping past McAllister with ease and teeing-up Adel Taarabt, whose angled shot beat Gerken but came back off the post.

Suddenly it was all Rangers and the Robins, unable to regain their earlier control, were left chasing shadows as the visitors, now with an extra man in midfield, visibly grew in stature and confidence.

City boss Johnson had clearly seen enough and decided to make a change 20 minutes into the second half, withdrawing McAllister, sending on Velicka to provide ballast in the attacking third and switching to a flat black four with Lewin Nyatanga moving to left-back and Fontaine partnering Jamie McCombe in the centre.

But the move proved ill-fated when Velicka went to ground and had to be replaced by Lee Johnson.

Velicka’s misfortune was soon forgotten as Maynard broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion, after which City were forced to hold on.

Fontaine produced a superbly-timed tackle to deny Buzsaky, while Gerken made a great save to deny Leigertwood in time added on.

Bristol City (3-4-1-2): Gerken; Skuse (Fontaine 37), McCombe, Nyatanga; Orr, Elliott, Hartley, McAllister (Velicka 65, sub Johnson 75); Clarkson; Haynes, Maynard.

QPR (4-4-2): Cerny; Ramage, Hall, Stewart, Borrowdale; Routledge, Faurlin (Helguson 85), Leigertwood, Buzsaky; Taarabt (Vine 67), Agyemang (Pellicori 67).

Referee: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands)

Attendance: 14,571