Kone misses chances in frustrating QPR stalemate

Richard Kone missed several chances as QPR endured a frustrating first home game of the Championship season. 

Kone, left out for last weekend’s win at Portsmouth, was restored to the side but had an afternoon to forget.

He had four clear-cut opportunities during a first half largely dominated by the ​R’s.

After being teed up by Ilias Chair, Kone had a weak shot held by keeper Jack Bonham, who soon afterwards denied the striker at close range after good work on the left by Koki Saito.

Kone was then put through on goal by Harvey Vale, but again was unable to find a way past Bonham, who was in fine form – he also tipped over an early strike from Vale.

And when Bolton were unable to clear their lines and Ronnie Edwards pulled the ball back from the right​-hand touchline, Kone could not apply the finish.

QPR continued to dominate after the interval and appealed in vain for a penalty when Saito, having cleverly evaded two challenges, appeared to be upended by Josh Sheehan.

The chances kept coming, with Kone nodding the ball towards Vale, who could only head straight at Bonham.

Kone’s final chance came just after the hour mark via a low cross from the right by Amadou Mbengue, but again Bonham saved.

That prompted head coach Julien Stephan to make a quadruple substitution, replacing Kone with Rumarn Burrell and sending on fit-again midfielder Nicolas Madsen a​long with recent signings Tariq Lamptey and Dennis Cirkin, who made their debuts.

But Rangers, for all their pressure and possession, were unable to create further openings until former Brentford man Bonham again came to the visitors’ rescue in stoppage time, this time spreading himself to deny Paul Smyth at point-blank range.

QPR: Charles; Mbengue (Lamptey 63), Dunne, Clarke-Salter, Adamson (Cirkin 63); Edwards, Vale (Madsen 63); Poku, Chair, Saito (Smyth 76); Kone (Burrell 63).

Subs not used: Ward, Varane, Alemayehu, Lloyd.