Two serious injuries compounded a tough afternoon for Brentford as Queens Park Rangers scored three times in 10 minutes to overturn a one-goal deficit in a thrilling west London derby.

Neal Maupay, who is the Championship’s leading scorer, would draw first blood on 21 minutes before being stretchered off on the stroke of half time.

After strikes from Joel Lynch, Massimo Luongo, and Nakhi Wells, the Bees would pull one back through Henrik Dalsgaard with nine minutes remaining.

READ: QPR 3 Brentford 2 - as it happened live

But the celebrations were bittersweet as Said Benrahma would go off with an ankle injury, with boss Thomas Frank losing two key players in the same game.

Brentford have now slipped to 15th in the league table as their woes away from Griffin Park this season continue.

Here are five things we learned from the west London rivalry clash at Loftus Road…

Brentford simply couldn’t stop QPR in that pivotal 10-minute spell

Fouls the Bees would not ordinarily commit enabled QPR to find ways to deliver the ball dangerously from set-pieces, and that was the visitors’ downfall.

Added to the fact Ebere Eze, Luke Freeman, and Pawel Wszolek were constant threats from all areas, the Rs were difficult to contain all afternoon.

Once the equaliser went in, the hosts’ tails were up and they rode the momentum to punish their rivals.

Individuals impressed despite the poor defending for the goals

Ezri Konsa, Romaine Sawyers, and Said Benrahma – to name a few – all performed well.

Sawyers’ pass before the goal helped Brentford go in front, while at the other end the captain made a goal-line clearance when QPR desperately searched for an equaliser.

Alongside Benrahma, the two are perhaps the standouts from the afternoon – it’s just the team’s overall defending for all three strikes was below par.

READ: Player ratings from QPR 3 Brentford 2

Frank simply didn’t have enough viable options to turn the tide

This is not at all a slight on the Bees boss but it felt as though the absences of Marcus Forss and Ollie Watkins hurt them a little.

Summer signing Emiliano Marcondes has only just returned from four months out with injury, and Finnish teenager Jaakko Oksanen is yet to make his English football debut.

Two of his other available changes – Josh Clarke and Josh Dasilva – have made a combined three league appearances this season, all from the bench.

Was Watkins the missing ingredient?

The winger has not been in his best form of late, however, one cannot help but wonder if his presence from the bench might have helped claim the draw.

It’s easier said in hindsight, though the 22-year-old clearly would have offered fresh legs and a more recognisable presence up front.

While Sergi Canos performed diligently as the lone frontman for the remaining 45 minutes Brentford could’ve done with Watkins from the substitutes’ bench.

READ: Brentford boss Thomas Frank discusses how the team can improve and the January transfer window

Do Brentford require reinforcements in January?

Post-match, Frank said the club “always look towards the next transfer window and prepare for it”.

With the gradual injury pile-up, it wouldn’t be surprising if Brentford were keeping one eye on the upcoming transfer window.

A backup striker and left back could be useful going into the second half of the Championship campaign – whether they’re available is another question entirely.