On-the-whistle report: QPR 3 Rotherham United 2

The Millers had famously won in West London two season ago to record the only away victory of their 2018/19 second-tier campaign.

However, this time the contest was all but over by the interval as they had no answer to the attacking prowess of Bright Osayi-Samuel and headed back to South Yorkshire full of frustration after a late fightback had given them the scent of a point.

Rotherham were led a merry dance by the QPR winger and trailed 3-1 at the break, having conceded twice in two late first-half minutes, on their way to a loss that left them 19th in the table.

Substitute Freddie Ladapo gave them hope with an 84th-minute poacher's strike, after they had had a strong penalty appeal turned down, but the home side held out.

The Millers had the first clear sight of goal after nine minutes when Dan Barlaser sent a lofted cross into the QPR penalty area.

Trevor Clarke was lurking with time and space at the back post and should have done better than nad his effort wide.

Rotherham had a let-off six minutes later when dangerman Osayi-Samuel burst forward and hit the woodwork.

But it wasn't much longer before they fell behind, Osayi-Samuel causing problems again before passing to Ilias Chair whose 20th-minute shot took a huge deflection on its way into the net.

Warne's men were being stretched but they came close to an equaliser on 32 minutes when Barlaser's superb 20-yard effort from Michael Smith's lay-off brought the acrobatic best out of QPR goalkeeper Seny Dieng.

Only six minutes later, the Millers were level as Wes Harding sent in a perfect cross from the right and Smith didn't need asking twice to head in his first goal of the campaign.

However, they were reminded of QPR's threat when Chris Willock headed wide when he ought to have scored and only a crucial intervention from Angus MacDonald denied Ajayi-Samuel.

The contest turned horribly against them in stoppage time at the end of the opening period when Osayi-Samuel ended a twisting run by smacking the ball past Jamal Blackman and Barlaser's handball allowed Lyndon Dykes to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot.

Warne had made four changes to the side that had lost 1-0 at Swansea City at the weekend.

Forwards Kyle Vassell and Smith impressed off the bench at the Liberty Stadium and were rewarded with starts while Joe Mattock was back at left-back after a hamstring injury.

Clarke also did well as a sub against the Swans, in his first Championship game, and was named on the left wing.

Matt Olosunde, Jamie Lindsay, Matt Crooks and George Hirst dropped out of the starting 11 and were joined among the replacements with fit-against Richard Wood and Ladapo.

The fact that he had three substitutes on before the hour mark showed what Warne thought about what he was seeing.

Rotherham showed more defensive resilience in the second half and threatened a comeback against a team that had been so dangerous earlier on.

Ladapo turned cleverly with his first touch of the match but didn't get enough power or accuracy in his finish, allowing Dieng to save.

Then referee Oliver Langford, a referee with whom the Millers have previous history, harshly denied them a spot-kick when Olosunde was tripped.

Ladapo was in the right place at the right time in the 84th minute to turn the ball in after the ball had come back off the post from Michael Ihiekwe.

But, unlike two years ago, there was to be no fairytale last-minute ending for the Millers.

Goals: Chair 20, Osayi-Samuel 40+1, Dykes pen 40+3 (QPR); Smith 38, Ladapo 84 (Rotherham).

Rotherham (4-4-1-1): Jamal Blackman; Wes Harding (George Hirst 84), Michael Ihiekwe, Angus MacDonald, Joe Mattock; Florian Jozefzoon (Matt Olosunde 59), Dan Barlaser (Matt Crooks H-T), Ben Wiles, Trevor Clarke (Jamie Lindsay H-T); Kyle Vassell (Freddie Ladapo 74); Michael Smith. Subs not used: Viktor Johansson, Billy Jones, Richard Wood, Mickel Miller.

QPR (4-2-3-1): Seny Dieng; Osman Kakay, Conor Masterson, Yoann Barbet, Niko Hamalainen; Geoff Cameron, Dom Ball; Bright Osayi-Samuel (Albert Adomah 79), Ilias Chair, Chris Willock (Macauley Bonne 60); Lyndon Dykes. Subs not used: Liam Kelly, Todd Kane, Lee Wallace, Tom Carroll, Faysal Bettache, Charlie Kelman, Ody Alfa.

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).