Play-off hopefuls Derby could not break down a determined QPR side in an entertaining Coca-Cola Championship encounter at Pride Park.

The hosts enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the first half and were unlucky to go in at the break on level terms.

But QPR offered more after the break and Ian Holloway's side could just have easily taken maximum points.

Derby manager George Burley named the same side who beat Plymouth 11 days ago, with Mo Konjic taking his place at the back despite suffering a broken nose against the Pilgrims.

Holloway made one change to the side who triumphed against Watford in their last outing.

Andy Davies joined Dan Shittu in the centre of midfield after arriving for a second loan spell from Middlesbrough, with Gareth Ainsworth dropping to the bench.

The Rams, unbeaten in their last eight Championship games, knew a win would take them into fourth place and they made a bright start with Tommy Smith and Tom Huddlestone trying their luck from distance.

QPR were on the back of a four-match run without defeat and they played some tidy football in the opening stages.

A slick passing move allowed Paul Furlong to play in Kevin Gallen but the striker - who scored twice against the Hornets - failed to trouble Lee Camp in the Derby goal.

Gallen should have done better when he started and almost finished another clever move just before the half hour.

He swept the ball out to Martin Rowlands but when the cross came in he could not connect with the volley and former Ranger Camp held easily.

The hosts finished the first half in determined fashion and QPR goalkeeper Simon Royce did well to tip Inigo Idiakez's effort over the crossbar.

Royce, on loan from Luton, then breathed a sigh of relief when Idiakez's clever free-kick went over the wall and clipped the crossbar with the `keeper rooted to the spot.

Derby picked up where they left off after the restart and Marcus Tudgay was unlucky not to get on the end of Morten Bisgaard's dangerous ball across goal before Royce pulled off a smart stop to deny Grzegorz Rasiak.

But QPR continued to look dangerous on the break and Gallen hit a half-volley just wide of the target from 25 yards.

The visitors enjoyed their best spell of the match with just over an hour gone and Georges Santos tested Camp from distance.

Most of the good work was coming from the left hand side and Gallen was presented with another chance with quarter of an hour gone but his curling shot went across the goal with Camp beaten.

Just like they did at the end of the first half, Derby upped the tempo as the clock ran down but QPR stood their ground and held on for a point.

Teams

Derby: Camp, Kenna, Konjic, Huddlestone, Makin, Tudgay (Reich 67), Bisgaard, Idiakez, Bolder, Smith (Peschisolido 82), Rasiak.

Subs Not Used: Grant, Mills, Taylor.

QPR: Royce, Bignot, Davies, Rose (Edghill 90), Shittu, Rowlands, Santos, Bircham (Ainsworth 85), Cook, Furlong, Gallen.

Subs Not Used: Rossi, Thorpe, Cureton.

Booked: Cook.

Att: 24,486

Ref: K Friend (Leicestershire).