Marc McNulty set the ball rolling when he netted in the first half, finishing off Louis Reed's timed pass whilst Jamal Campbell-Ryce scored twice in the second half to send the visiting supporters into raptures and earn a place in the Fourth Round of this magnificent cup competition.
London based QPR became only the fifth Premier League club to be eliminated from a domestic cup competition by Sheffield United in the past twelve months. They join the roll call along with; Aston Villa, Fulham, West Ham United and Southampton whilst Hull City remain the only top flight side victorious against the Red and White Wizards.
Having played three fixtures since (and including) Boxing Day prior to the meeting with United, Rangers boss Harry Redknapp made seven changes and included veteran Rio Ferdinand and top scorer Charlie Austin. However despite an experimental side they started off well and Mark Howard did well to keep out Fer with his effort whilst Jordan Much fired straight at the shot-stopper.
But the hosts never really looked comfortable in defence and Campbell-Ryce took full advantage and gave Armand Traore a torrei time down the right-flank. Pint sized Stefan Scougall was also a thaw in the Rangers sides and he fired home from 10 yards out before McNulty gave the visitors the lead in the 36th minute. Reed played the ball past two R's defenders to an unmarked McNulty who clinically finished past McCarthy to notch his ninth goal of the season.
Redknapp made changes at the interval - bringing on Bobby Zamora in an effort to change the game but within four minutes of the re-start their task was more difficult when JCR finished from close range. McCarthy failed to catch Reed's in swinging corner and after the ball bounced of Much the former Barnsley and Nott's County forward had the simplest of tap-ins.
The hosts almost pulled one back at the other end but Zamora soon found that it wasn't to be his day, his free header from Matt Phillips cross bounced agonisingly just wide of goal - on another day he would have been wheeling away in celebration. Former Blade Phillips was also guilty of missing chances, he sliced high and wide after Mauricio Isla had made a surging run.
Has the clock ticked down the referee's whistle drew ever closer but in the fourth minute of stoppage time the game was well and truly over when Fer's mistake in defence allowed JCR to steal the ball and after toying with keeper McCarthy duly despatched the ball into the back of the net in front of the cheering Unitedites. QPR had just the time to kick-off once again before the referee ended Rangers misery.
Queens Park Rangers: McCarthy, Traore, Caulker (Isla 60), Ferdinand, Phillips, Austin, Fer, Onuoha, Mutch, Henry (Vargas 60), Hoilett (Zamora 45). Unused: Murphy, Hill, Furlong, Grego-Cox.
Sheffield United: Howard, Harris, Flynn, Doyle (Higdon 90), Scougall, Baxter (J.Wallace 90), McNulty (Murphy 82), McEveley, Campbell-Ryce, Reed, Kennedy. Unused: Alcock, McGahey, Turner, Dimaio.