Promotion-chasing rivals Millwall and QPR stumbled to a goalless draw in a turgid London derby at the New Den.

Despite the grit and determination displayed by both sides in front of a bumper 15,603 crowd, neither was capable of finding the creativity required to penetrate the other and both goalkeepers remained largely untroubled throughout the 90 minutes.

With on-loan Arsenal stopper Graham Stack out for six weeks, Andy Marshall - who has has only recently recovered from a bout of viral meningitis - was drafted in between the posts for the Lions.

Player-manager Dennis Wise came in for Scott Dobie, while Rangers were unchanged from the side which claimed a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Coventry two weeks ago.

Both sides were playing for the first time in a fortnight, but there there was little sign of any rustiness in Rangers' approach during the early exchanges.

When Lions defender Mark Phillips fouled QPR striker Paul Furlong, Gareth Ainsworth delivered a dangerous free-kick which Matthew Lawrence was forced to clear.

The visitors continued to press and Kevin Gallen, full of running and intent, began to prove a constant torment to the hosts' backline.

For all their possession, however, Rangers struggled to find a cutting edge and Gallen's 30-yard free-kick was caught by Marshall.

Millwall, aiming to bounce back from consecutive home defeats in the Coca-Cola Championship and get their promotion bid back on track, struggled to supply twin strikers Barry Hayles and former Rangers star Danny Dichio.

Jody Morris' right-foot effort shortly before the interval was the hosts' best goalscoring chance, but Rangers defender Danny Shittu bravely blocked his effort.

The second half began in much livelier fashion and David Livermore's dangerous cross was blocked by Rangers defender Richard Edghill.

Furlong's drilled effort from the edge of the box was then similarly blocked by Darren Ward before Dichio did likewise to prevent Shittu from breaking the deadlock.

Dichio, struggling to make an impact, crossed for the impressive Alan Dunne to fire narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

Rangers manager Ian Holloway then made two changes shortly before the hour mark, replacing Jamie Cureton and Gareth Ainsworth with Tony Thorpe and Martin Rowlands respectively.

The changes seemed to inspire the visitors as Furlong fired into the side-netting from 20 yards before Thorpe's fierce effort was superbly repelled by Marshall from close-range.

Millwall responded to their pressure by hauling off the ineffective Dichio and replacing him with Dobie.

The switch had the desired effect as the pendulum of attacking momentum swung firmly back towards Millwall, though their impotence again betrayed their neat approach play.

Four dangerous crosses in less than sixty seconds should have brought the hosts a goal - but neither Dobie or the quiet Hayles were able to convert them.

With 15 minutes remaining, Dobie connected with Hayles' cross, but the former West Brom striker could only head weakly wide when well-placed, to ensure the game remained goalless.

Teams

Millwall Marshall, Phillips, Lawrence, Ward, Livermore, Muscat (Simpson 73), Dunne, Wise (Elliott 83), Morris, Dichio (Dobie 64), Hayles.

Subs Not Used: Serioux, Weston.

Booked: Hayles.

QPR Royce, Edghill, Shittu, Davies, Padula, Ainsworth (Rowlands 58), Santos, Gallen, Cook, Furlong, Cureton (Thorpe 57), Thorpe (Rose 88).

Subs Not Used: Day, Bignot.

Booked: Santos, Edghill.

Att: 15,603

Ref: P Crossley (Kent).