Half-time: QPR 1 Carlisle United 1

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas hauled QPR level three minutes after they had gone behind in the League Cup second-round clash at Loftus Road.

League Two side Carlisle scored against the run of play when keeper Alex Smithies, making his Rangers debut, hesitated after coming off his line to meet an unmarked Antony Sweeney, who cleverly sidestepped him and teed up Derek Asamoah to fire home.

But Emmanuel-Thomas, who scored against Yeovil in the previous round, equalised three minutes before half-time when he found space near the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a shot which keeper Mark Gillespie got a hand to but was unable to keep out of the bottom corner of his net.

QPR had largely dominated before the opening goal and Reece Grego-Cox, one of four home-grown players in their starting line-up, brought a save from Gillespie after Junior Hoilett’s shot had ricocheted into the youngster’s path.

Summer signing Sebastian Polter missed a great chance for Rangers when he turned nicely after collecting Michael Doughty’s pass only to scoop over from just inside the box.