Ten-man QPR ended a run of five straight defeats thanks to this draw with
Brighton - but manager Ian Holloway is unlikely to be happy with only one point
against a struggling team.
Rangers created the better chances, but a combination of poor luck and poor
finishing meant they did not take them.
And to add to their disappointment, Paul Furlong - their leading scorer this
season - was shown a straight red card after tangling with Adam Hinshelwood five
minutes from time.
Holloway had ordered his side to be more positive after the recent home defeat
by Crewe, and he made three changes to that starting XI, with Georges Santos,
Marcus Bean and Gareth Ainsworth included.
But Brighton chief Mark McGhee named the same team that drew 1-1 at Wolves
four days ago as he aimed to oversee his club's first win at Loftus Road since
1957.
The visitors' task was almost made considerably harder with less than a minute
gone, when Ainsworth's misdirected shot hit defender Hinshelwood and was
scrambled off the line by goalkeeper Michel Kuipers, before Hinshelwood did well
to block Martin Rowlands' follow-up effort.
Kevin Gallen saw a shot cleared off the line by Hinshelwood and Bean volleyed
straight at Kuipers after Ainsworth had been instrumental in both moves, before
Hinshelwood again did well to stop on-loan striker Leon Best getting in a shot.
Four minutes before the break, Kuipers dived superbly to push Bean's low drive
onto his right post before recovering immediately to prevent Best touching in
the rebound.
The home side continued to attack at the start of the second period, but could
not find a goal.
Furlong could only shoot straight at Kuipers after Best had put him through,
before the veteran forward's 22-yard free-kick was turned away by Guy Butters,
who was standing next to the right post.
Leon Knight replaced Mark McCammon for the second half and almost silenced the
home supporters after 56 minutes.
His 20-yard shot was spilled by Chris Day, but the Rangers goalkeeper redeemed
himself by stopping Gary Hart's follow-up.
At the other end, Kuipers survived a scare when he allowed Richard Edghill's
long ball to bounce over him into Furlong's path, but there was no Rangers
player in the box to seize on the centre-forward's cross.
QPR were frustrated again when Gallen volleyed Ainsworth's cross towards goal
18 minutes from time, only to see Hinshelwood intervene once more.
Furlong's frustration overcame him after 85 minutes and he was sent off by
referee Andy D'Urso after he appeared to kick out at Hinshelwood.
And with only two minutes remaining, Brighton almost stole victory when the
unmarked Charlie Oatway headed Kerry Mayo's corner just wide of the far post.
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