QPR leapfrogged Reading and moved level on points with leaders Sheffield United and second-placed Norwich by coming from behind to beat the Royals 2-1 at Loftus Road.
Mick Beale’s men fell behind to an Andy Carroll penalty (30) shortly after they had controversially been denied one of their own when Sam Hutchinson’s blatant handball was not spotted by the officials.
Parity was restored inside three minutes, however, when Dykes stooped to power a diving header past former QPR goalkeeper Joe Lumley – his first goal since August 6 (33).
And, despite a slow start to the second half from the hosts, the Scotland striker scored a cool late penalty (84), following a clumsy challenge from Mamadou Loum, to secure a fourth win in five Championship matches for Rangers.
Reading could have moved top of the Championship with victory, but instead, Paul Ince’s men drop to fourth ahead of the remainder of the weekend’s action.
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How Dykes ended his goal drought to lift Rangers
A high tempo, open first 10 minutes or so in west London soon gave way to great intensity from QPR, who fired warning shots when Ilias Chair dragged a shot wide after a menacing run and Tyler Roberts drew a good low stop from ex-Hoop Lumley.
The hosts should, without doubt, have been given a penalty after 19 minutes. Chair caressed a ball over to Tim Iroegbunam at the far post, with his header put behind for a corner by a blatant handball from Reading defender Hutchinson. The officials, however, were unmoved.
In a cruel twist of fate, on the half-hour, the Royals took the lead from the spot, against the run of play. Iroegbunam brought down Lucas Joao just inside the area, with Carroll placing the ball on the spot and emphatically planting the ball out of Seny Dieng’s reach.
But justice was served inside less than 180 seconds, when substitute Osman Kakay – who replaced the hamstrung Ethan Laird after just 26 minutes – delivered a wicked cross in from the right that Dykes expertly guided past Lumley.
The pendulum swung in Reading’s direction in the second half as they pinned Rangers back, which meant Lumley had to be fully alert to push away a Roberts header from point-blank range and to then get a strong hand on a powerful shot from Chair soon after.
The rhythm of the game was then broken up by a succession of changes but, inside the final 10 minutes, QPR found a way to lead for the first time.
Loum mindlessly brought down Iroegbunam in the box, with no obvious intention to play the ball, and after referee Thomas Bramall pointed to the spot, Dykes kept his cool to tuck his penalty into the bottom right corner and seal victory late on.
Player of the match – Lyndon Dykes
The striker marked his 27th birthday in style with his first goals in two months, which helped QPR to cement their place as promotion contenders ahead of a busy month before the break for the World Cup.
He took his chance with Chris Willock sidelined through injury, scoring two from three shots and just three touches of the ball in the opposition penalty area.
What’s next?
Both teams are back in action on Saturday October 15. QPR travel to Kenilworth Road to take on Luton at 12.30pm, while at 3pm, Reading host West Brom at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.