QPR, who had won their previous three Championship matches, lacked a spark until Small’s wayward clearance beat Daniel Iversen in the 82nd minute.

It came after Preston were managing to hold off Rangers’ dangerous attacks and maintain the lead that was given to them by Brad Potts a minute into the second half.

QPR failed to display any goalscoring threat for large parts of the game at Deepdale while Preston, who extended their unbeaten run to three, showed more intent early on.

Alfie Devine had a shot deflected wide within 18 minutes, and two minutes later a flurry of crosses created a chance for Lewis Dobbin, but the striker’s scuffed effort was easily managed by Joe Walsh.

QPR trio Paul Smyth, Harvey Vale and Rayan Kolli all combined to carve an opening for Jonathan Varane to shoot, but his arrowed effort flashed wide in the 34th minute.

Within one minute of the restart, Potts put Preston ahead. It started with a surging run by Devine just past the halfway line, and as he cut in towards goal he found Potts, who stroked it past Walsh with a cool finish.

It seemed to ignite both sides into life, with QPR aiming to respond quickly. Smyth had picked up promising positions throughout the game, and on this occasion he swivelled on the ball before smashing it off the post.

Kolli drilled a shot just past Preston’s post on the hour mark as the away side started to apply more pressure.

Despite sitting deeper, North End were able to cope with QPR as they forced the in-form side into more speculative efforts.

Daniel Bennie nipped in front of his marker and tried to glance a header goalwards but struggled to get clean contact, and with 11 minutes remaining Richard Kone cut in from the left but rolled his shot straight at Iversen.

QPR’s equaliser came from a drilled cross into the box which evaded everyone apart from Small, who, with little pressure on him, sliced an attempted clearance into his own net with eight minutes left.

Preston were again on the back foot, with Bennie flicking a header goalwards that was parried away by Iversen to preserve Preston’s point.