Rangers were trailing to a shock opener from Coventry's Marlon King when Taarabt equalised with another dazzling solo effort to add to his growing collection. The Moroccan maestro left two defenders trailing before unleashing an unstoppable curler into the corner of the net for his 13th goal of the season.
And there was more to come 11 minutes from time when Taarabt lofted a pass with the precision of a sand wedge into the path of Wayne Routledge, who marked his second Rangers debut with the winner.
Warnock has somehow managed to bring the best out of a talented but temperamental individual where a succession of previous managers at Loftus Road and Taarabt's former club Tottenham failed, and he is reaping the rewards.
"Either goal was fit to win any game, and you won't see a better ball for the second anywhere in the world," said Warnock. "There's baggage with him and he'll make some mistakes. He was bombed out by the previous two managers here and rightly so, but it couldn't be better for me at this time of my career and I think I'm the right manager for him.
"My son bought his mate today just to see Taarabt. He thinks he should be playing for Real Madrid. And he could, but first of all he's got to help me."
Source: PA
Source: PA