EX-Saint striker Dexter Blackstock struck against his former club and Ray Jones grabbed a second as Saints suffered their first home defeat of the season losing 2-1.

The third-placed Saints, looking for a fifth successive win, got off to a perfect start against lowly QPR when Jermaine Wright fired them ahead in the third minute.

But Blackstock, who was offloaded to Rangers by George Burley in August, returned to haunt his former boss with the leveller before fellow youngster Jones fired the visitors into a shock lead.

Saints went ahead when Czech playmaker Mario Licka, making his full debut, swung in a cross from the left towards Wright.

The midfielder showed superb technique in side-footing a volley past Rangers keeper Paul Jones from the edge of the area for his first goal for the club.

And the hosts almost went two up when teenage left-back Gareth Bale fired in a trademark free-kick which was tipped around the post by former Saint Jones.

Saints were made to pay in the 34th minute when Cook jinked into the area and crossed for Blackstock to head home his third goal of the season.

And Rangers, reinvigorated under new manager John Gregory, went ahead five minutes later when Jones chased down a long clearance, rounded goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and tucked the ball into an empty net from a narrow angle.

Much attention was focused on the corporate hospitality boxes during the game for the return of ex-chairman Rupert Lowe. It was the first time he had been seen at a Saints game since stepping down in the summer after a controversial rein at the helm of the football club.