Below-par QPR held to draw by Burton

QPR 0 Burton 0

QPR endured a frustrating afternoon at Loftus Road.

Rangers remain unbeaten at home in the Championship this season but will be disappointed to have failed to break the deadlock.

Burton, meanwhile, continue to steady the ship following a poor start to the season.

Since beating beaten in their opening three matches of the campaign, Nigel Clough’s side have lost just one of their last six.
The Brewers defended resolutely throughout and Sean Scannell almost gave them an early lead.

Scannell chased Kyle McFadzean’s ball over the top, cut inside from the left past Darnell Furlong and then fired against the near post.

It was a rare sight of goal for the visitors, who spent most of the game pinned in their own half.

Soon after Scannell hit the woodwork, QPR striker Conor Washington cleverly beat his man and found Jamie Mackie, whose deflected shot from from the left-hand side of the penalty area hit the hit netting.

Luke Freeman’s left-wing cross then almost resulted in an own goal by Jamie Allen, but keeper Stephen Bywater saved after the ball had bounced off the Burton midfielder.

And Mackie sent a first-time effort over the bar following good work on the right flank by the recalled Pawel Wszolek as the hosts continued to search for a goal.

Rangers boss Ian Holloway made a double substitution at half-time in an attempt to give his team some much-needed impetus, bringing on recent signing Bright Osayi-Samuel on for his debut along with target man Matt Smith.

But they continued to struggle to create chances, although Lucas Atkins blocked a goal-bound volley from Alex Baptiste following Freeman’s right-wing corner.

Holloway also sent on another striker in Idrissa Sylla, but Burton dug in and dealt well with the aerial threat of the Belgian and Smith as
QPR resorted to pumping the ball forward.

Freeman was Rangers’ liveliest player and saw a free-kick held by Bywater before sending a powerful left-footed strike wide of the target.