QPR MISSED THE chance to return to the top of the Sky Bet Championship after being beaten 2-0 by Birmingham at St Andrew’s.

Auston Trusty and Emmanuel Longelo, on loan from Arsenal and West Ham respectively, gave spirited Birmingham the perfect platform for victory with first-half goals.

Then Birmingham goalkeeper John Ruddy saved a 79th-minute penalty from Lyndon Dykes to ensure there was no late fightback from the visitors.

That capped a miserable return to the West Midlands for QPR head coach Michael Beale, the former assistant to Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa and who recently turned down the vacant manager’s job at Wolves.

QPR also lost former Birmingham loan defender Jake Clarke-Salter and forward Tyler Roberts to injuries before half-time.

A freakish goal gave Birmingham a great start as they took the lead inside four minutes.

Trusty’s hopeful overhead flick looped over the helpless goalkeeper Seny Dieng after Krystian Bielik returned Hannibal Mejbri’s corner to the danger area after it had been punched clear.

Undeterred, QPR attacked the home goal and Ilias Chair’s curling free-kick needed a firm hand from goalkeeper Ruddy to help it over the bar.

Roberts was just as close with a sidefooted effort from the edge of the box that deflected up off Harlee Dean and onto the roof of the net.

Then Dykes produced a snapshot that was well held by Ruddy.

QPR lost Clarke-Salter and Roberts in the space of six minutes before they conceded a second goal in the 29th minute.

Left wing-back Longelo teased Ethan Laird before cutting inside to the corner of the penalty area and rolling in a low shot that crept inside the far bottom corner of the net.

Rangers tried to hit back and a curling free-kick from captain Stefan Johansen was inches away, although replays showed a corner was incorrectly awarded after no contact from a Birmingham player.

Substitute Sinclair Armstrong missed two chances for QPR before the break when he scuffed his shot from eight yards out then glanced over.

Dykes also sent a low drive skidding just wide as the high-flying visitors sought an immediate reply following the restart.

But Birmingham were growing in confidence and Longelo’s inviting cross just needed a touch for a third goal only for it to fall fractionally behind Scott Hogan.

Ruddy’s heroics came when he made a superb stop to keep out Dykes’ spot-kick after Longelo was judged to have raised his foot too high on Laird as they challenged for a deep cross.