Blackburn Rovers' quest for a first Championship win continues as QPR twice came from behind to earn a draw at Loftus Road on Wednesday night.
Rovers make the breakthrough
The visitors didn't get off to the best of starts, as left-back Tommy Spurr took a heafty blow to his face. Markus Olsson came on to replace him with the game only seven minutes old.
From there, Rovers started to put pressure on the home defence, and their efforts were rewarded on fourteen minutes. Winger Craig Conway looped in a free-kick towards the back post, and after a mix-up in the QPR backline, centre-half Shane Duffy was able to prod the ball in past keeper Alex Smithies, who was making his full QPR debut.
The first half was pretty much dominated by Rovers, with QPR's main attacking threats Tjaronn Chery and Charlie Austin letting their frustrations known via long-range efforts Jason Steele could comfortably deal with. Rovers seemed comfortable in possession and were defending their slender lead with relative ease.
QPR fire back quickly in second half
Both teams strolled out for the second half with different intentions, but all the good work Rovers did in the first 45 minutes was undone within 30 seconds of the restart.
Austin was able to get in behind the Blackburn defence, and while his first shot was excellently saved by Steele, the former Swindon Town forward followed it up via a deflection off Adam Henley.
Whatever manager Chris Ramsey said to his players at half-time, it certainly worked as the home side piled on the pressure. with Daniel Tozser and Austin again seeing shots blocked.
But they weren't able to take these chances, and Rovers made them pay.
Rhodes puts Rovers ahead again, but they can't hold on
A long ball was played up to Bengali-Fode Koita who then flicked it onto strike partner Jordan Rhodes. From here, it was all Rhodes' brilliance, as he lofted the ball over his head, and held off Nedum Onuoha to finish excellently past Smithies.
Again, QPR tried to rally and grab a second equaliser. winning a series of corners. And it was from a corner which they did score to set up a tense final ten minutes.
Tozser took the delivery and Onuoha, who could have done better with Rhodes' goal, buried his header into the top corner, leaving Steele with no chance in the Blackburn goal.
Both sides huffed and puffed trying to find that decisive goal, but overall a draw was probably the fair result at Loftus Road.
It's a result which does both sides no favours. Blackburn remain in the bottom three, while QPR remain two points outside the play-off spots.
Rovers' search for a first win continues and they entertain Charlton Athletic at Ewood Park this Saturday, while QPR travel to fellow promotion contenders Hull City.
