A brave MK Dons bowed out of the FA Cup with Budweiser Third Round to a 1-0 defeat by Queens Park Rangers and were denied the chance to face Chelsea at stadiummk in the next round.

An 83rd minute header from Danny Gabbidon was all that separated the sides in the Replay at Loftus Road, after a 1-1 result at the Dons had forced a rematch, and it was a cruel way to exit the magical competition because Karl Robinson's men had out-classed their Premier League opponents on two occasions only to fall short in front of goal.

The defeat may cost them the chance to play host to Chelsea in the next round, a stage in the competition that they have never seen before, but the Dons should take bags of confidence from their performances which can only strengthen their form in League 1.

An added bonus for the Dons is the admirers they will have gained for their pass-and-move football and approach of playing with no fear. It might have been a different story had Jabo Ibehre and Charlie MacDonald converted key chances in the game, instead they are left not to ponder on what could have been, but to concentrate on their chase for the Championship.

The Dons had to get the memories of the cruel 89th minute equaliser at stadiummk out of their minds if they were to get the most out of the rematch. The visitors started brightly by imposing their shape and style on the hosts, although there were moments that would have caused a few nerves for the Dons bench especially when Shaun Williams was dispossessed near the box by Jay Bothroyd and Jamie Mackie quickly found himself on the ball but Luke Chadwick did will to recover and saw the ball out for a corner.

Bothroyd has struggled to endear himself to the Hoops fans and him the 11th minute he did little to win them over when he ghosted through the Dons defence to set up a great chance at goal, yet wildly shot over.

With quarter of an hour on the clock the possession had been with the Dons and QPR were looking to feed on the scraps of mistakes made by the Dons. Robinson's men were more than holding their own against the Hoops and Williams, despite his size and unfamiliarity with the centreback position, was proving invaluable at the back as he picked up on Wright-Phillips' poor touch on Federico Macheda's cross from the left to cut out any chance of an opening.

Although the goalmouth action was short-coming the play on the pitch was absorbing. When Jabo Ibehre intercepted a pass across midfield it offered a chance for Darren Potter to bring Adam Smith into action and the fullback, who has scored two stunners this season, unleashed a right-footed effort which fell wide of Paddy Kenny's goal.

Moments later Adam Smith was again key to the Dons' best attacks when a superb cross from the flank found poacher Charlie MacDonald but he could not turn his header on target.

At the other end Chadwick was called on for some last-ditch defending to prevent Wright-Phillips from turning in Macheda's through ball. From the resulting corner QPR thought they had score the first goal under the reign of Hughes as Shaun Derry headed home Akos Buzsaky's corner, but referee Phil Dowd was quick to rule the goal out after spotting Derry's wrestling antics of 'keeper Martin.

As the chances finally began to come in the game the Dons were able to cause a panic on the Hoops' box when Gleeson had the vision to see MacDonald in a good position and directed a fine cross for him to run onto, MacDonald had Kenny to beat and with the outside of his boot he watched in agony as the ball skimmed wide of the post.

Appeals from the Dons for a penalty came five minutes before the break when Chadwick tried to latch onto Gleeson's chipped ball into the box and went down under the challenge of Anton Ferdinand.

In a breathless spell, Buzsaky then cut the Dons open with a neat ball through for Wright-Phillips who had beaten the offside trap and had to get the better of Martin. However, Martin was alert to make himself big and managed to get a palm to Wright-Phillips' low shot away from a corner.

Buzsaky's initial corner forced another, from which Dean Bowditch raced on the counterattack but by the time he reached the 18-yard box the forward opted for the wrong next move as he flashed his shot over.

After the break both keepers were involved in year, but simple saves as Bothroyd twice called on Martin to make comfortable collections while Gleeson's shot from the edge of the box found target but Kenny never looked troubled.

The Dons, now shooting towards the 1,916-strong MK Army, were in disbelief that they had not taken the lead in the 58th minute when Smith played a superb cross into the six-yard box but Ibehre, looking to flick the ball in with a back heel somehow turned it wide of the post.

The pressure was coming all from the Dons, this time it was MacDonald who couldn't quite get his connection right as he curled Gleeson's ball past the same post that had prompted Ibehre to put his head in his hands.

Dons' dominance did not impress the home support who were extremely vocal in their encouragement of their players and of their opinions on who should and shouldn't leave the pitch.

Suddenly QPR found a surge of confidence when a free-kick deep from the left from the boot of Buzsaky brought a magnificent save from Martin, the Dons goalie had to backtrack and spring off his feet to lift the fiercely struck shot over the bar.

However, from the resulting corner Martin could do little other than watch as Wright-Phillips' corner caused disarray in the box and Gabbidon shook off his marker, before the Hoops' defender sent a bullet header into the back of the net.

It was a shattering moment for the Dons and so undeserved too for all their positive play in the second half they had every right to fell hard done by to be trailing their hosts.

As time ticked away the Dons' hopes were fading, the R's had found their rhythm and former Don Mackie was denied a chance to double their lead as a low strike from the right of the area was blocked by Martin.

Ultimately, it was harsh on the Dons to taste defeat at Loftus Road but their Cup campaign will no doubt have won plaudits from any true football fans.

QPR (4-4-2): Kenny, Young, Gabbidon, Ferdinand, Hill, Mackie, Derry, Buzsaky (Helguson 72), Wright-Phillips, Macheda (T Smith 62), Bothroyd (Orr 86).

Subs not used: Cerny, Hall, Campbell, Ephraim.

Goal: Gabbidon 73

MK Dons (4-2-3-1: Martin, A Smith, Kouo-Doumbe, S. Williams, Lewington (c), Potter, Gleeson, Bowditch (O'Shea 83), Ibehre, Chadwick (Powell 73), MacDonald.

Subs not used: McLoughlin, Flanagan, Baldock, G Williams.

Attendance: 10,255 (1,916 away)