AT half-time there wasn't the faintest hint that Cardiff City would run away with all three points.
After almost an hour it seemed the best hope for the Bluebirds was to hang on to a point.
Yet striker Robert Earnshaw led City to a victory which will make every other team in the promotion chase take notice. Cardiff returned to South Wales from London as new leaders of Division Two - thanks to an Earnshaw treble and Andy Campbell.
Earnshaw's hat-trick left Rangers down and feeling the whole world is against them.
They had suffered the humiliation of an FA Cup exit to Vauxhall Motors in midweek and Cardiff piled on more misery.
This was Cardiff City's first win at Loftus Road for more than 30 years. The last time they won at the London stadium, in 1970-71, it proved to be John Toshack's final appearance for the club before his departure to Liverpool for £110,000.
Leighton Phillips scored the only goal and a few days later Toshack was on his way to Merseyside.
Today, Earnie is the target for Liverpool and Co. The scouts were out in force, running the rule over City's pint-sized striker who has the pace to terrify defenders.
This time, though, owner Sam Hammam has pledged to resist any multi-million pound overtures for 19-goal Earnshaw.
"Don't even think about it," is Hammam's message to any Premiership club weighing up a bid during the January transfer window.
Liverpool have had scouts at a number of City matches this season. Arsenal and Aston Villa were among the clubs represented at QPR last night.
Surely Hammam will stick by his word and, barring an absolutely massive bid from one of the top three Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester United, will turn away any approaches.
For Earnshaw is the inspiration who is sparking City's promotion charge.
Last night, for a third match in a row, Cardiff City were below their best. They were outplayed, in attacking terms at least, for an hour.
It had been a similar story against Chesterfield at home and Tranmere Rovers in midweek.
Yet they won all three matches, playing in a six-day spell, and didn't even concede a goal.
Manager Lennie Lawrence decided on a tight 4-4-2 formation and called up Des Hamilton for his first Nationwide League start this season.
They expected a backlash from QPR after their humiliating midweek FA Cup exit and got it.
Rangers were superb, attacking with determined, physical and aggressive football.
City were forced back and during the first half goalkeeper Neil Alexander was outstanding, producing some first class work to deny rampant Rangers.
After half-time nothing changed. Rangers charged, their supporters roared and City faced a barrage of attacks.
It was then Earnshaw took a hand with three goals in 27 minutes.
His first was a touch fortunate, his second magnificent and his third a cheeky volleyed lob which left the Rangers faithful furious.
City's opener, on 58 minutes, was the result of a confused attack, a scrambled goal which followed an Andy Legg corner. The delivery was superb with Thorne and Hamilton having a go before the ball bounced off a post and a defender appeared to turn it over the line.
Earnshaw stood with arm aloft to signal the goal and manager Lawrence said later: "Earnie's claimed it - and I can't see anybody persuading him otherwise."
With one goal to his credit, Earnshaw then stepped up his one-man demolition job on the home side.
After 63 minutes, Earnshaw pounced when Rhys Weston won a strong tackle just inside the Rangers half and the Bluebirds striker took possession. He turned, ran for goal and cut back inside first Tommy Williams and then Danny Shittu.
The defenders could only look on in despair as Earnshaw smashed in a left-foot cracker into the roof of the net from just outside the penalty area.
You could almost feel the pain felt by Rangers. Their collective hearts were broken - and their resistance gone.
Heads dropped throughout the team and a QPR team who hadn't scored in their previous three League games and had failed to win in the last 10 gave up.
They even helped City on the way to an emphatic win as Terrell Forbes nodded the ball gently back to his keeper - and watched in horror as Earnshaw nipped in to lob gently and beautifully into the net.
Earnie's hat-trick was followed immediately by a substitution - Andy Campbell for the three-goal hero.
And Campbell fired the fourth. This time QPR defender Williams slid the ball back towards his keeper and straight into the path of Campbell.
Goalkeeper Simon Royce did well to get down and block Campbell's shot, but the striker showed great awareness and finishing power as he regained possession. Campbell ran wide of Royce and slid his shot into an empty net.
The destruction was complete.
Once again, Cardiff City proved they can win without producing their best. At the back City were tenacious and solid.
Alexander was superb, central defenders Spencer Prior and Chris Barker refused to buckle as Rangers threw themselves at their visitors.
Going forward, City struggled to find their rhythm and passing game. Every time the ball was cleared it came straight back.
"We couldn't pass water," said manager Lawrence.
But City's team work ethic, team spirit and will to win are second to none and they worked their way through an hour of QPR pressure thanks to hard work, good defending and a little good fortune.
Having negotiated the difficult bit, City handed over to Earnshaw and he finished off hosts whose brittle confidence was shattered completely.
The win put Cardiff City top of Division Two - and right on course for promotion. It's been a pretty good November, five clean sheets and five wins.
