Sheffield United maintained their slim hopes of snatching a play-off place with a 2-0 win at QPR.
First-half goals from Callum O'Hare and Tyrese Campbell secured the victory against injury-hit Rangers, who have lost three of their last four home matches and were second-best throughout.
The west London side, thrashed 5-0 at Southampton in midweek, were again punished for some woeful defending.
United were on top from the start and O'Hare opened the scoring after 13 minutes with his ninth goal of the season.
Tahith Chong exchanged passes with Sydie Peck, and the Curacao international's cross from the right deflected off sliding Rangers defender Jake Clarke-Salter towards the unchallenged O'Hare, who fired home at the far post.
Jonathan Varane went close to equalising when he fired over, but shortly afterwards he gave the ball away, resulting in the Blades doubling their lead in the 33rd minute.
Campbell took full advantage of Varane's error, thumping a superb long-range strike past goalkeeper Joe Walsh - the forward's first goal since November.
With his team having been totally outplayed in a one-sided first half, QPR head coach Julien Stephan made a double substitution at half-time, sending on attackers Paul Smyth and Rayan Kolli and switching to a 3-4-3 formation.
Smyth had a chance to pull a goal back when he latched onto Kieran Morgan's pass and nudged the ball past keeper Adam Davies but shot wide of the near post from an awkward angle.
Rangers thought they had scored when Richard Kone headed in Harvey Vale's corner but the goal was disallowed, seemingly because Smyth was standing in front of Davies in an offside position.
Kone was unable to get to Vale's teasing cross and Isaac Hayden then headed wide as the home side tried in vain to find a goal, but United were generally comfortable.
QPR's Julien Stephan:
"We knew before the game that they were able to combine on their right side. The way they scored the first goal was exactly what we could expect.
"But if you don't respect the principle of play and don't close inside - simple things, it's not a question of back four or back five, it's just a question of respect of the principle of play. The second one, we must be able to keep the ball in this situation.
"I don't think it's a question of shape or organisation. We know the situation with the injuries and all the players we have out. It has a huge, huge impact on the quality we can have on the pitch.
"But if we are not able to compensate with more intensity and more aggression we have no chance in the Championship. And in the last couple of games the disappointment has been that."
Sheffield United's Chris Wilder:
"There's a lot of games left - a quarter of the season to play - and a lot of points to be had.
"We're in a group that's not in the best of positions, but can we go and string a run together? That's what we'll all be after.
"I think we're the lowest team that maybe would feel we have an opportunity. There's some games of football we can lose, some we can draw, and some games that with this group that we can go and win.
"We don't want our season just to fizzle out. We understand there's an opportunity to win the next game and we have to go and take that.
"We've been good. I can't complain about the form and attitude of the players. On current form - the last 15 or 16 games - we're right up there.
"If we're going to do something, we can't shy away from it - we're going to have to go and win some games of football. Go and win the next game and see where it takes you."
