Gareth Ainsworth's equaliser in first-half stoppage time earned a point for QPR after 18-year-old Irish midfielder Chris McCann had given Burnley a 10th-minute lead.

Burnley were the better side overall, especially before the interval, but all their good work was undone when Ainsworth headed home a long ball from Dan Shittu.

QPR made the brighter start and had three attempts at goal within the opening six minutes, the best chance falling to Ainsworth who headed over the bar from a Richard Langley free-kick.

But the early promise counted for nothing as McCann curled home a lovely left-foot shot to give the Clarets the lead against the run of play.

After 12 minutes, Rangers manager Ian Holloway's plans were disrupted further when Marc Nygaard's injury jinx struck again.

The big Danish striker has struggled with hamstring and calf problems since joining from Brescia last summer and had to make way for veteran Paul Furlong.

Burnley nearly doubled their lead when defender John McGreal connected with a Wade Elliott corner only for his header to go over.

McCann was proving to be Burnley's most dangerous player and had a header saved by Simon Royce in the 38th minute, while 14-goal top scorer Ade Akinbiyi finally made his presence felt when he forced the goalkeeper to parry his close-range shot.

Royce also denied James O'Connor as Steve Cotterill's side looked like ending the first half well on top until Ainsworth's late intervention.

Akinbiyi took only 30 seconds of the second period to show his quality again as he volleyed just over - and Furlong had QPR's best opportunity since the opening moments only to head wide.

The 37-year-old did better, however, in the 51st minute when goalkeeper Brian Jensen had to tip his header over the bar. But he wasted a fine opening soon afterwards by drilling the ball wide.

Cotterill sent on Graham Branch in place of Garreth O'Connor midway through the second half - and the change nearly reaped a quick dividend, the substitute drawing a fine save from Royce with a long-range strike.

The match then petered out disappointingly, the exertions of four matches in eight days for both teams possibly responsible for the lacklustre closing stages.

Teams

QPR Royce, Bignot, Shittu, Rose (Santos 75), Milanese, Ainsworth, Langley (Donnelly 75), Rowlands, Cook, Baidoo, Nygaard (Furlong 13).

Subs Not Used: Cole, Moore.

Goals: Ainsworth 45.

Burnley Jensen, Duff, McGreal, Sinclair, Harley, Elliott (Thomas 81), Hyde, James O'Connor, Garreth O'Connor (Branch 69), McCann, Akinbiyi.

Subs Not Used: Grant, Karbassiyoon, Spicer.

Booked: Sinclair, McGreal.

Goals: McCann 10.

Att: 12,565

Ref: K Stroud (Hampshire).