QPR made heavy weather of taking a step closer to the play-offs with a battling 2-0 win over mid-table Notts County.
The best moment of a scrappy match was the 20-yard curling free-kick from Richard Langley in injury time which secured the win.
Up until then, the second half was a series of mis-hit passes as the home team failed to click in the final third.
However, there was little to suggest that County were any more than a token threat to the Londoners.
In the second minute a low free-kick from Gino Padula nearly found its way in at the near post only to be scrambled away by Nicky Fenton.
Slick interplay between Kevin Gallen and Kevin McLeod allowed the Everton loan player to deliver a hanging cross which saw Paul Furlong out jump the keeper and head against the up right before hammering the rebound into the roof of the net to give Rangers a great start.
On 29 minutes another dangerous cross, this time from a corner, was met by Danny Shittu at the back post who incredibly headed wide from a yard out.
On the stroke of half time the same player came to the near post but once again managed to repeat the dubious feat and leave his side wondering where their next goal was coming from.
On 57 minutes a comedy of errors by County defenders saw Langley in the clear on the right side of the box only for the midfielder to blast the ball high and wide.
With Rangers becoming more and more frustrated, a risky back header from Shittu had both Chris Day and Mark Stallard stretching for the ball.
Luckily for Shittu his keeper won the race as he plucked the ball off the County forward's toe.
The 65th minute was the only memorable moment for the 200 County fans who had made their way to London as it produced their team's only shot on target when Stallard turned sharply in the box but fired straight at the keeper.
It looked as if Furlong's goal would be the only one of the day until Langley's excellent dead ball strike after Bircham had been fouled late on. To add insult to injury for Patrick McCarthy the County player was booked as well.