Below-par QPR held to draw by Blackburn

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QPR 0 Blackburn Rovers 0

QPR had to settle for a point – and had Clint Hill to thank for it – after a subdued performance at Loftus Road.

Blackburn caused them plenty of problems and Jason Lowe’s header from Ben Marshall’s 18th-minute cross was cleared off the line by the Rangers skipper.

Marshall was a constant threat on the left flank, especially in the first half, and Rovers went close again when his excellent delivery was headed over by Chris Taylor from seven yards out.

There was another lucky escape for the home side just before the interval when Jordan Rhodes headed narrowly wide from another left-wing cross, this time Tommy Spurr’s.

Despite having reservations, R’s boss Harry Redknapp decided to stick with two up front, with Andy Johnson again starting alongside Charlie Austin.

Matt Phillips, who scored after coming on as a substitute against Bournemouth in midweek, was given a starting place and Gary O’Neil was dropped to the bench.

Having opted for a supposedly more attacking line-up, Rangers struggled to create chances and changes were duly made 12 minutes into the second half – moments after Phillips failed to take a great chance to score.

The winger, denied at point-blank range by keeper Simon Eastwood following Johnson’s low cross, was replaced along with ex-Blackburn wide-man Junior Hoilett, with O’Neil and Niko Kranjcar coming on.

But Rangers’ best piece of wing-play came from Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who cheekily turned away from Josh King and sent in a brilliant cross that was headed against the post by Austin.

QPR (4-4-2): Green; Simpson, Hill, Dunne, Assou-Ekotto (Traore 87), Phillips (O’Neil 58), Barton, Carroll, Hoilett, (Kranjcar 58) Austin, Johnson.
Subs not used: Murphy; Onuoha, Jenas, Henry.

 

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