Tommy Smith lit up a tepid end-of-season encounter against QPR with a superb strike to earn troubled Derby a point at Loftus Road.

The Rams found themselves behind on the hour when Marc Nygaard headed his eighth goal of the season, but Smith, the standout player in an otherwise forgettable affair, tucked away a fine curling shot for an equaliser.

Derby ended the game with 10 men after Darren Moore saw red for a second bookable offence shortly before the final whistle.

The end of term cannot come quickly enough for either of these distinctly average sides, with off-the-field turmoil overshadowing two desperately disappointing campaigns.

Derby will have presumably been relieved just to get back to playing football following a week which saw the resignation of chairman John Sleightholme and an investigation into alleged financial irregularities at Pride Park.

Rangers continue to labour under caretaker boss Gary Waddock and are now without a win in their last eight attempts while Derby, under their own temporary manager in Terry Westley, have at least found enough form to keep themselves clear of the drop zone.

Unfortunately, the lack of even a slim threat of relegation in either camp to lift the interest levels contributed to a mind-numbing first half.

Teenage midfielder Stefan Bailey sent an early sighter straight into the arms of Derby keeper Lee Camp before Richard Jackson's last-ditch tackle denied Richard Langley as he shaped to shoot.

Lee Cook then found space on the edge of the area and sent in a drive which forced Camp into a smart save low to his right.

Smith had Derby's first shot, hitting it straight at goalkeeper Paul Jones, while at the other end Gareth Ainsworth prodded the ball comically wide from close range.

Nygaard was inches away from a Mauro Milanese cross and Ainsworth hit an audacious lob over Camp and past the post shortly before the interval.

The spectacle at least improved after the break, and Dan Shittu's marauding run forward ended with the defender shooting straight at Camp before fellow centre-back Ian Evatt headed wide.

Michael McIndoe should have put Derby in front, but the on-loan Doncaster winger nodded Smith's inviting cross wide, and moments later it was Rangers who took the lead.

Paul Furlong, who had entered the fray moments earlier, fed the ball to Cook and his left-wing cross was met by Nygaard who planted a bullet header past Camp.

But Derby hauled themselves level in the 67th minute when Smith picked the ball up midway in the Rangers half, strode forward and sent a superb left-footed curler past the outstretched palm of Jones.

Furlong fluffed two glorious chances to win the game when, with the goal gaping, he failed to make a decent contact on crosses from Cook and Ainsworth.

And Derby's day ended on a sour note when Moore body-checked Cook as he raced down the wing to earn a second yellow card four minutes from time.

Teams

QPR Jones, Kus, Shittu, Evatt, Milanese, Ainsworth,Donnelly (Furlong 58), Bailey, Langley, Cook, Nygaard.

Subs Not Used: Cole, Santos, Lomas, Howell.

Booked: Bailey.

Goals: Nygaard 59.

Derby Camp, Jackson, Moore, Nyatanga, Michael Johnson, Smith,Barnes (Peschisolido 64), Bolder (Idiakez 64), Seth Johnson,McIndoe (Holmes 64), Lisbie.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Edworthy.

Sent Off: Moore (88).

Booked: Moore.

Goals: Smith 67.

Att: 12,606

Ref: T Kettle (Berkshire).