Onuoha rescues point for QPR against Blackburn

QPR 2 Blackburn 2

Nedum Onuoha’s 79th-minute goal spared QPR a second successive home defeat.

Shane Duffy put Blackburn ahead, Charlie Austin equalised and Jordan Rhodes restored the visitors’ lead before Rangers levelled again when their captain headed in Daniel Tozser’s right-wing corner.

Chris Ramsey side, who were beaten at home by Nottingham Forest on Saturday and have conceded two goals in seven of their nine matches this season, were poor in the first half and went behind on 14 minutes.

Keeper Alex Smithies, making his full league debut for his new club, spilled Craig Conway’s left-wing free-kick at the far post and felt he was fouled by Duffy, who tapped into an unguarded net.

Rangers hit back through Austin, who capitalised on a fortunate ricochet in the opening minute of the second half to score his sixth goal of the season.

Massimo Luongo’s ball into the box was deflected into Austin’s path and he rounded keeper Jason Steele before firing home from a tight angle, with his shot striking the unlucky Adam Hanley on the way in.

That galvanised Rangers and they appealed in vain for a penalty shortly afterwards, protesting that Danny Guthrie had blocked Tjaronn Chery’s shot with his arm.

The game appeared to be swinging in their favour but the shoddy defending which has plagued their season so far was evident again as Rhodes restored Rovers’ lead.

Fode Koita beat Gabriele Angella in the air and Rhodes held off Onuoha before nudging the ball past Smithies.

Onuoha made amends by rescuing a point for Rangers, who sit eighth in the Championship table.