Late own goal gives spirited QPR deserved point
Newcastle 2 QPR 2
QPR left Tyneside with a deserved point courtesy of Ciaran Clark’s last-minute own goal.
Jonjo Shelvey scored after just 37 seconds at St James’ Park, where the excellent Conor Washington equalised a minute before half-time.
Matt Ritchie’s goal against the run of play eight minutes into the second half restored Newcastle’s lead and looked like giving them the points.
But Rangers hit back again when former Newcastle man Kazenga LuaLua, on as a substitute – and on loan from the Magpies’ promotion rivals Brighton – crossed from the left and Clark headed into his own net.
QPR’s rousing display seemed unlikely when they went behind so early.
Shelvey, who tormented them in their 6-0 hammering by Newcastle in September and had not scored since, gave his team the perfect start.
Isaac Hayden dodged two challenges and his ball into the danger area was weakly headed by Jake Bidwell only as far as Shelvey, whose firm strike gave keeper Alex Smithies little chance.
But QPR rallied and Bidwell atoned by playing a key role in their first equaliser.
Ryan Manning’s corner was cleared as far as Bidwell and the left-back’s well-executed volley was superbly controlled by Washington, who poked home from close range for his second goal in as many games.
Hayden was also involved in Newcastle’s second goal, crossing from the right for Ritchie, who rose above Darnell Furlong to head into the far corner.
That was tough on Rangers who, having made the worst possible start, responded strongly and created a number of first-half openings before getting their reward.
A promising counter-attack ended with Pawel Wszolek failing to react quickly enough after being teed up by Washington, who later crossed for Massimo Luongo to head straight at keeper Karl Darlow.
Luongo was heavily involved early on, seeing one effort wide flash wide of the target and another blocked by Paul Dummett before Washington brought the R’s level.
They continued to threaten after the restart – Darlow saved with his legs to from Wszolek after the Pole pounced on an error by Dummett – but suddenly they found themselves behind again.
Boss Ian Holloway responded by sending on Luke Freeman and then Sean Goss for their Rangers debuts.
But, after Smithies kept the visitors in the game by producing brilliant – and ultimately crucial – saves to deny Yoan Gouffran and Ayoze Pérez, it was Holloway’s third substitute who made the all-important difference.
QPR: Smithies, Furlong (Goss 80), Onuoha, Lynch, Bidwell, Wszolek, Perch, Luongo, Manning (Freeman 66), Mackie (LuaLua 73), Washington.
Subs not used: Ingram, Cousins, Doughty, Petrasso.
