Mikele Leigertwood's unstoppable 20-yard drive sealed back-to-back wins on the road for QPR in their 1-0 win over Barnsley.

The stand-in Rangers skipper cut back on to his weaker left foot before firing home an effort that went in off the crossbar, following Hogan Ephraim's beautiful back heel.

The fixture - in truth - had the feel of an end of season match, with both sides assured of safety for another season in the Coca Cola Championship.

Though nonetheless, it was another fantastic win away from W12 for the Hoops, who moved within two points of the top half of the second tier league table.

Hoops boss Neil Warnock made two changes for the trip to Yorkshire.

Josh Parker was handed his first start in QPR colours, while Tamas Priskin also came into the starting XI.

Meanwhile, Adel Taarabt missed out owing to an ankle injury and Rowan Vine dropped to the substitutes' bench.

Radek Cerny was in goal for the R's.

Parker and Dusko Tosic occupied the full-back positions, while Peter Ramage partnered Kaspars Gorkss in the centre of defence.

Akos Buzsaky, skipper Leigertwood, Alejandro Faurlin and Ephraim were in midfield for QPR.

Priskin was up front with Antonio German.

Only moments had gone before Barnsley almost snatched an early lead at the start of the first half at Oakwell.

Iain Hume burst past both Gorkss and Ramage before unleashing a low drive that was superbly tipped onto the post and out for a corner by Cerny.

Soon after, the R's created their first chance to find the net.

After Buzsaky won a free-kick, he dusted himself down before firing an effort from 30-yards out straight at the keeper.

Chances were few and far between in the opening 20 minutes, though Rangers were enjoying more possession and time on the ball.

It was QPR's composure on the ball that helped carve open their first clear-cut opportunity of the afternoon.

Faurlin and Buzsaky combined before the latter flicked the ball on to Tosic. The Serbian left-back drove down the flank and into the penalty area before squaring for the unmarked German.

The young striker looked certain to find the target from just six-yards out, only to mistime his shot as the ball went under his foot before it was cleared up field.

Play then switched to the other end, and after Ramage misjudged a header, Hume received possession around 20 yards from goal before he smashed an effort just wide of Cerny's right-hand post.

Moments later, Hugo Colace's beautiful chip over the R's back four put Hume through on goal, before Ramage came across to block the Canadian international just before he was about to unleash an effort in at goal.

From the loose ball, Jon Macken looked certain to find the net from just 15-yards out, before Ramage was again on hand to block his shot on the line.

It was a missed chance that Barnsley would eventually pay for, as the R's raced into the lead on 27 minutes.

Ephraim's lovely back heel created the opening goal, after he sent the ball into Leigertwood's path following a Parker throw-in.

The rest was poetry in motion. Leigertwood cut in before sending home an unstoppable left-footed drive from 20-yards out that hit the underside of the bar and bounced in to the net.

Soon after, Hammill burst down the left before sending over a cross for Macken, who rose highest before heading straight at Cerny.

The hosts should have replied just before half-time.

After an innocuous-looking through ball, Colace found himself in acres of space and through one-on-one with the keeper. The midfielder - in truth - rushed his effort, as he flashed a shot straight at Cerny from the edge of the box.

The second period started much like the opening 45 minutes, with not much in the way of chances.

It was Barnsley who were first on the attack. Hume picked up possession well into the R's half before squaring to Butterfield on the edge of the box, though his shot was well held by Cerny.

Minutes later, Ephraim breezed past Colace down the right, only to see his low cross caught by Steele for the Tykes.

The match had become a turgid affair, and with that, Warnock decided to introduce Lee Cook in place of the impressive Ephraim for Rangers.

However, all that either of the two sides could create was a Buzsaky effort that went wide 40 yards from goal, as the R's held out for the victory.

Barnsley: Steele, Hassell, Moore, Colace, Foster, Hume, Butterfield, Macken, Potter (Dickinson 69), Hammill (Devaney 40), Doyle (Taylor 81).

Subs: Kozluk, Preece, Adam, Shotton.

Bookings: Potter, Doyle

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Leigertwood, Buzsaky, Gorkss, Faurlin, Ephraim (Cook 81), Tosic, German (Simpson 56), Parker, Priskin (Brown 90).

Subs: Vine, Balanta, Oastler, Putnins.

Goals: Leigertwood (27)

Bookings: Buzsaky

Referee: Mr R Booth

Attendance: 11, 944 (574)