INJURIES to Lee Peacock and Lee Matthews could prove more damaging to Bristol City than the loss of three home points at home to QPR.

Ian Holloway's Rangers ran out convincing 3-1 winners, having been stretched at the back until Peacock's departure with a hamstring strain just before the interval.

Matthews had already succumbed to a back problem on 21 minutes and replacements Christian Roberts and Leroy Lita lacked the experience and physical presence to trouble a relieved visiting back line.

City took a 10th minute lead when Scott Murray raced onto Tommy Doherty's through ball to confidently notch his fifth goal of the campaign.

It should have been 2-0 as Murray again outstripped the Rangers defence to cross low for Peacock, who somehow managed to shoot wide at the far post.

Rangers profited from the escape to equalise on 23 minutes. Sloppy City defending allowed Karl Connolly yards of space to volley past an unprotected Steve Phillips from 10 yards.

That might not have mattered if Craig Woodman had converted another glorious chance moments later. But the youngster, preferred to a fit-again Mickey Bell, amazingly contrived to hit a post with the goal gaping.

Again Murray was the provider. On the bench, coach Frank Barlow held his head in his hands in disbelief.

Such misses were always likely to prove expensive against a Rangers side well equipped to go forward themselves.

They might have been ahead after only 20 seconds as Matthew Rose shot wide from a Kevin Gallen cross and always looked capable of causing problems for a less-than-watertight City rearguard.

But Wilson's side continued to press. Peacock failed to spot an obvious pass to the unmarked Brian Tinnion with Rangers' defence all over the place.

Then Joe Burnell had a shot deflected just wide.

Tinnion fired over on the turn following a quick free kick, but any momentum City gained leading up to the break was lost in a nightmare start to the second half.

Murray lost possession on 47 minutes waiting for Danny Coles to overlap and both were caught upfield as Tommy Williams broke away to cross for Connolly, who netted his second with a low shot.

Six minutes later more poor defending at a free-kick allowed Clarke Carlisle to head down for the unmarked Gallen to flick a close range volley past Phillips.

City had to rely on the pace of Murray, Lita and Roberts to get back into the game, but their passing lost its accuracy, leaving too many moves to break down before reaching the danger zone.

Rangers looked the more likely scorers in the closing stages as Phillips was stretched to save from Gallen and then from substitute Marc Bircham.

Roberts did get into a couple of good positions for City, but the end product was lacking. Lita was playing Under-17 football last season and will have learned from his experience against an increasingly commanding Rangers side.

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