Ten-man QPR defied the odds to snatch a fully deserved 1-0 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Captain Marvel Martin Rowlands earned the win with a fine free-kick for his first of the campaign, after the R's had earlier been reduced to ten men following Matt Connolly's double booking.

The win was no less than Rangers deserved, as Radek Cerny was a virtual spectator throughout, having only been called into action on one occasion, to save a Mark Fotheringham free-kick.

Indeed, the visitors could and perhaps should have doubled their advantage before half-time, with both the hard-working Emmanuel Ledesma and lone striker Dexter Blackstock each squandering gilt-edged chances.

Rangers, despite thumping Southampton three days ago, made two changes.

Emmanuel Ledesma, back from suspension, replaced Hogan Ephraim, and Rowlands, captaining the side, replaced Daniel Parejo, who took up a seat on the bench. He was joined by the returning Akos Buzsaky, after the Hungarian midfielder had fully recovered from ankle surgery.

The hosts were unchanged after picking up their first win at the weekend over Plymouth Argyle. This meant loan strikers Arturo Lupoli and Antoine Sibierski, from Fiorentina and Wigan respectively, started together in attack, while the club's player of the month Darel Russell lined up in midfield.

A pacy opening led to Norwich testing Radek Cerny first, as Russell sent a left-footed effort curling into the Czech keeper's arms.

Russell was at it again moments later as his 20-yard shot was again easily saved by Cerny. Rangers were working hard; patiently moving the ball around, but as yet could not break down a side buoyed by their first win of the season on Saturday.

Sibierski fancied a goal on his home debut, but his volley was blocked by an oblivious Damion Stewart.

Minutes later, Ledesma almost capitalised on a rapid counter-attack involving Lee Cook, as he volleyed an effort just wide after a deflection off a Norwich player.

Then a hammer blow. Connolly, already booked, scythed down Matty Pattison to earn his marching orders after 26 minutes, echoing last years fixture where Stewart was the unlucky villain. Manager Iain Dowie reshuffled his pack, introducing Kaspars Gorkss for Lee Cook.

Rangers had the chance to take a shock lead in the 33rd minute, as they won a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Ledesma's first shot was illegally charged down by Mark Fotheringham, earning the home skipper a yellow card. The re-take was taken in superb fashion by Rowlands, who sent a venomous daisy-cutter hard and low, beyond David Marshall, into the bottom left corner for his first goal of the season.

Ledesma almost made it two moments later, as a complete misjudgement in the Norwich defence from John Kennedy allowed the Argentine to pick up the ball in the six-yard box. He danced passed the stranded Kennedy, lobbed a bewildered Ryan Bertrand, but could not get a decent shot away.

Blackstock then sent a free header over the Canaries crossbar from Ledesma's free-kick. The R's were not letting the numerical advantage affect them in the slightest, but had to settle for a solitary goal advantage at half-time.

Norwich opened the second half in determined fashion as you would expect, but Rangers were holding firm, with the impressive away support in full voice urging them on.

Wave after wave of yellow and green attacks were repeatedly repelled by the superb Mikele Leigertwood and Gavin Mahon patrolling the centre of the park, with anything that did creep through easily dealt with by Stewart and Gorkss.

Indeed, Sibierski was only denied a certain goal by a superb block from the Latvian substitute, after Pattison had wriggled into the box and sent a low cross from the left side.

In a rare Rangers foray, Ledesma fed goalscorer Rowlands who dribbled across the box, working an angle, before sending over a delightful chip that marginally sailed wide with Marshall scrambling.

With quarter of an hour left, it was Cerny's turn to save Rangers with an unorthodox two-handed save to deny Fotheringham's free-kick from sneaking into the corner.

With little under ten minutes to play, Dowie played his final card, introducing Buzsaky for Ledesma, with the Hungarian making his first appearance of the season.

Despite a late chance for the hosts, which fell just past the post, Rangers held on - and how!

Norwich City: Marshall, Kennedy (Grounds 62), Stefanovic, Sibierski, Hoolahan (Cureton 66), Fotheringham, Lupoli (Croft 46), Russell, Bertrand, Omuzusi, Pattison.

Subs: Nelson, Cureton, Koroma.

Goals:

Bookings: Fotheringham (32), Lupoli (35), Stefanovic (85)

Red Cards:

QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon,Leigertwood, Blackstock (Agyemang 76), Rowlands, Ramage, Connolly, Cook (Gorkss 29), Ledesma (Buzsaky 81).

Subs: Camp, Parejo.

Goals: Rowlands (33)

Bookings: Connolly (8, 24), Blackstock (69)

Red Cards: Connolly (24)

Referee: Mr R Shoebridge

Attendance: 24, 249