Draw for Rangers in tense play-off first leg

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Wigan 0 QPR 0

QPR will fancy their chances of reaching Wembley after drawing a tense play-off semi-final first leg.

Having suggested his team would go on the attack, Rangers boss Harry Redknapp played it safe ahead of Monday’s all-important second leg at a sold-out Loftus Road.

In a turgid first half, Armand Traore and Charlie Austin had chances for QPR and keeper Rob Green saved at his near post to deny Wigan midfielder Jordi Gomez.

The second half was more open and Rangers, roared on by 3,000 travelling fans, started it well, with Traore’s shot bringing a save from Scott Carson.

Wigan struggled to create clear-cut chances before failing to take two of them in quick succession.

James Perch was unable to make contact with Jean Beausejour’s fine cross before Marc-Antoine Fortuné blasted over from close range after a mistake by Nedum Onuoha.

R’s defender Onuoha was otherwise excellent and his team were largely comfortable, keeping the Latics at bay fairly comfortably and often looking dangerous on the counter-attack.

QPR: Green, Simpson, Onuoha, Dunne, Hill, Hoilett (Yun 88), Barton, O’Neil, Traore (Doyle 70), Morrison (Kranjcar 78), Austin.
Subs not used: Murphy, Carroll, Hughes, Henry.

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