City were narrowly beaten on the road despite a battling performance at Queens Park Rangers.
Dom Jefferies' breakaway goal cancelled out Richard Kone’s first-half header before Glen Kamara secured maximum points for his side late on at Loftus Road.
After an intense start the hosts had the first real attempt on goal as Daniel Oyegoke’s header out of the area was fired back towards goal and deflected just past the right post by Kone.
It was Kone who provided the breakthrough for QPR after 11 minutes as the ball was knocked out to Boy Kemper who sent a looping header back into the box towards the striker who put his flicked header past George Wickens.
The pressure kept coming from the home side, with Harvey Vale’s corner eventually dropping for Paul Smyth who sent his fierce volley over the crossbar from around 20 yards out.
City stayed patient for their opportunity and it came in the 29th minute when Freddie Draper led a counter attack before laying it through to Jefferies who held off a challenge and lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and in.
This sparked a good spell of pressure from the Imps as Reeco Hackett received the ball just outside of the box before opening up a shooting opportunity and striking a deflected left-footed effort which looped onto the roof of the net.
City then had two more big opportunities shortly afterwards, with Hackett’s attempt from close range at the back post denied on the line before Sonny Bradley’s goalbound shot was blocked seconds later.
QPR had the first two chances of the second half, as Kwame Poku’s deflected shot was saved well by Wickens before the City keeper got behind Kamara’s powerful attempt a couple of minutes later.
Julien Stephan’s side went close to going back in front in the 57th minute as Smyth was picked out on the left, but he was denied by the left leg of Wickens before the rebound from Kone was blocked by Bradley.
The Imps kept battling though and had a chance of their own just after the hour mark when Wickens spotted the forward run of Adam Reach who took the ball in his stride but fired it over the crossbar.
The hosts next opportunity arrived in the 72nd minute as an inswinging ball found Jonathan Varane a few yards out from goal, with his shot flying narrowly wide of the right post.
City again responded with a good chance themselves as substitute Tom Bayliss rolled the ball across the edge of the area for Draper whose fierce shot was parried away by Piece Charles down to his left.
QPR found a way back in front on 80 minutes when Ilias Chair used his quick feet to play a pass towards Kamara inside the box who took a touch before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
The Imps continued to push right up until the final whistle but were unable to find another equaliser in West London.
QPR: Charles, Adamson, Dunne (C), Edwards, Smyth (Saito 77’), Kemper (Cirkin 69’), Poku (Dembele 69’), Kamara, Vale (Chair 59’), Kone (Obikwu 77’), Varane.
Subs: Ward, Morrison, Clarke-Slater, Kolli.
Imps: Wickens, Reach, Hackett (Hamer 73’), Ladefoged (Street 59’), McGrandles, Bradley (C), Jefferies (Olaofe 83’), Elerewe, Konak (Bayliss 73’), Oyegoke (Ogbene 83’), Draper.
Subs: Gauci, Coubis, Towler, Varfolomeev.
Referee: Robert Madley.
