Before the match, Preston interim boss Jason Euell said he was looking to put “things right” after a run of six defeats in seven games and he got an instant response from his players.
With the QPR defence caught napping, Kenny powered his way towards goal and with only Charles to beat, fired into the bottom left corner from close range.
Looking for a quick equaliser, QPR dominated possession but wasted a string of opportunities with Cirkin seeing an effort blocked, before Jonathan Varane headed over minutes later.
That proved to be the last of Cirkin’s involvement, with the defender then promptly shown a straight red card for a dangerous late tackle on Leo Leroy.
Latching onto a loose ball in the QPR box, Kenny then got his second. The striker had no difficulty in turning his defender before lashing the ball into the net to the delight of the travelling supporters.
Two goals adrift, the Hoops laid siege to the Preston goal after the break, with Amadou Mbengue and Koki Saito both squandering chances, before Poku finally got the hosts on the board – his low drive from outside the box proving too good for Daniel Iversen.
With the clock running down, Preston came close to adding a third, Andrija Vukcevic’s header being saved by Charles before Smyth broke Lilywhite hearts, firing the ball into the centre of the goal to give the home side an unlikely late point.