Jaydon Banel's 88th-minute goal kept Derby County's Championship play-off dream alive to seal a dramatic late comeback win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

The Rams have now closed the gap to just one point to sixth-placed Wrexham, who face champions Coventry City on Sunday.

John Eustace's side had to weather the storm in a strong performance from the Rs -Harvey Vale giving the hosts an early lead before Oscar Fraulo equalised with his first Derby goal.

Richard Kone retook the lead for QPR with his ninth league goal of the season but Sondre Langas's header 14 minutes from time swung the momentum in Derby's favour, before Banel snatched all three points with a stunning strike into the top corner.

It sets up a thrilling finale in the race for the play-offs, with Wrexham, Hull City and Derby all currently separated by one point.

For 76 minutes, it looked like there would only be one winner.

But the Rs were ultimately made to pay for a catalogue of missed chances. Julien Stephan's side had 23 shots to Derby's 12 - and 12 on target.

For the Rams - three shots on target, three goals.

QPR hammered at the Derby goal from the first minute and were almost ahead within five - Jacob Widell Zetterstrom saving from Kone's shot at point-blank range before Vale struck the post with the follow-up.

Paul Smyth tested the Rams stopper from distance before Vale got his second bite at the cherry, this time taking it with precision.

The former Chelsea winger received the ball from Daniel Bennie's pullback, taking a touch and opening up his body before drilling the ball into the bottom corner with his left boot.

Kieran Morgan sent one over the bar as the Rs looked to double their lead, with the equaliser coming against the run of play; Fraulo stroking the ball home after Max Johnston's miscued strike landed at his feet in the box.

Kone's goal to retake the lead for the hosts on 55 minutes certainly felt like it had been coming.

The Ivorian striker chested down a chip forward from Vale and swept home his 11th goal of the season in all competitions.

The Hoops looked to close the game out and extinguish the Rams' hopes of a late gatecrash of the play-offs until Langas nodded in from Joe Ward's cross into the six-yard box.

QPR went down to 10 men for the final few minutes as Rumarn Burrell, who has only recently returned from a long-term lay-off, went off injured, with no substitutions left available to Stephan.

The moment of the match came with just two minutes left of normal time, as Banel danced his way through two challenges and arrowed the ball into the top corner to settle a great comeback.

It means if Wrexham do not beat Coventry on Sunday then the Rams will be in with a chance of finishing sixth if they beat Sheffield United on the final day, having spent just one matchday in the play-off spots all season.

QPR boss Julien Stephan told BBC Radio London:

"It's a lot of frustration, a game like this. I think we played an amazing 60 minutes – normally a game like this it's bringing three or four goals after 60 minutes.

"We took our chances but probably not enough, so it stayed alive.

"We know exactly what team they are, a physical team able to score on set pieces.

"I think we played very well, good football, dynamic football, strong ambition to create danger [and] score some goals."

Derby County boss John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:

"I think that typified our season, that's Derby County.

"We go through difficult moments, we keep fighting and then obviously come through it and it's a great win.

"I always knew the first hour was going to be a really difficult time.

"The last 10 minutes was great, [we] really managed the game well. The lads managed the second half really well once we went 3-2 up.

On Jaydon Banel: "He's a really exciting young talent. He's scored a couple of goals at home and I'm delighted that he can get a really, really important goal again for us away from home."