Addison Garnett's header was enough to give QPR the three points in a bitty and fiesty West London derby at Harlington.

The defender met Callum O'Sullivan's deep-free kick just before the hour to settle the match against a depleted Brentford XI.

Jeremy Steele was without the services of 14 of his squad due to injury and a sick bug that swept the training ground earlier this week.

Despite starting centre-back Audrius Laucys as a makeshift centre-forward and losing goalkeeper Nik Tzanev to the bug in the warmup it was Brentford who started the brighter.

Both sides had early chances to score as Tyrell Mitford seized on an error from Gradi Milenge to fire just wide before Courtney Senior shot weakly at Alex Gogic from 18 yards.

Milenge nearly atoned for his earlier error but headed just over and Senior shot straight at Gogic after beating three players on a mazy dribble.

Mitford brought a sharp save out of late replacement Jordan Carey while Joshua Bohui fired well over from 18 yards after more good work from Senior.

Senior nearly opened the scoring moments later but his fantastic improvised overhead kick was well held by the alert Gogic.

Osman Kakay tested Carey after a good spell of QPR pressure and the duo were involved again moments later with Carey again coming out on top.

Brentford had the final chance of the first-half as Seth Owens headed over from close range.

The Bees thin squad was stretched even more at half-time as George Harmes and Laucys were both withdrawn and QPR began to get on top as the second-half got underway.

The giant Garnett headed a free-kick over, Dan Darbyshire whipped a shot just wide from 25 yards and Carey made a full-stretch save to deny Andreas Komodikis.

However there was nothing Carey could do on the hour as Garnett rose highest and planted a header into the far corner.

Garnett could have added a second in similar fashion a few minutes later but as the game entered the final quarter it became bitty as QPR tried to run down the clock.

The Bees were turned down what appeared to be a stonewall penalty with 10 minutes to go as Gogic flattened Bohui and that only added to the simmering atmosphere.

The flow of the game was not helped by a lengthy injury sustained by Tom Field which saw The Bees end the game with 10 men.

Carey turned away a low shot from Komodikis before Brentford missed a golden chance to grab a deserved leveller in the dying seconds.

Another surging run by Senior saw space open up for Owens, who has advanced from left-back, but the defender couldn't keep his shot down and fired over from eight yards.

That was The Bees last big chance and QPR set about running down the clock in the closing stages.

Komodikis brought another good save out of Carey before substitute Leo Donellan had Rangers' final chance but he fired well over from distance.

The last few minutes of the game were spent with QPR playing out in the corner and they hung on to secure the victory.

: Alex Gogic; Jeremy Arthur, Addison Garnett, Thomas Matthews, Osman Kakay; Andreas Komodikis, Trey Williams (sub Leo Donnellan 67 mins), Callum O'Sullivan, Dan Darbyshire; Tyrell Mitford, Nathan Corkery

: Lewis Todd, Brandon Adams, Gianni Crichlow, Rhys Springer

: Addison Garnett 58 mins

: Jordan Carey; Chris Mepham, Gradi Milenge, Seth Owens, Tom Field; Zain Westbrooke; Courtney Senior, Jeremiah Kamanzi (sub Anthony Guppy 60 mins); George Harmes (sub Makhosini Khanye 45 mins); Audrius Laucys (sub Danny Parish 45 mins), Josh Bohui

: Nik Tzanev

: Seth Owens 58 mins; Zain Westbrooke 90+4 mins