A goal from veteran defender Chris Morgan 13 minutes from time rescued a 1-1 draw for Sheffield United at QPR in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Both sides had started the day seven points clear of the relegation zone in the Coca-Cola Championship, but with half an eye on gatecrashing the top six.

A goal from Angelo Balanta after 19 minutes had given Rangers the lead at the break, but Morgan's equaliser ensured a share of the spoils after a relatively dour encounter in which neither side really did enough to clinch all three points.

Rangers boss Luigi De Canio welcomed back defender Fitz Hall after a groin muscle injury, although goalkeeper Jake Cole (thumb) and defender Chris Barker (hernia) failed to prove their fitness.

For the Blades, Billy Sharp (bruised leg) and defender Derek Geary (calf strain) were passed fit, although on-loan Manchester United winger Lee Martin missed out with a rib complaint.

Both sides had half chances in what was a quiet opening to the game, but it took until the 20th minute for Rangers to open the scoring.

Hogan Ephraim provided the opening from the right-hand side and Balanta found the back of the net with his right foot from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Blades briefly threatened midway through the first half, but Hall did well to clear an inswinging corner from Michael Tonge, before Lee Camp produced a fine save to deny James Beattie.

Again the danger originated from a Tonge corner down the right, and Beattie caught the ball on the volley with his left foot, only for Camp to come to his side's rescue with the stop.

Rangers finished the half the stronger, and Ephraim nearly made it 2-0 four minutes before the break, only to fire wide from the edge of the penalty area when well placed.

Balanta had an early chance in the second period, only to see his shot saved by Paddy Kenny, before Chris Armstrong and Tonge shot wide for the visitors.

The Blades then brought on substitute David Cotterill for Sharp, hoping the on-loan Wigan attacker could add some spark to proceedings.

Boss Kevin Blackwell then threw on strikers Luton Shelton and Rob Hulse with 15 minutes remaining, and the visitors duly equalised within 60 seconds through the right foot of Morgan.

Rangers had one final chance to win it, as the game entered injury time, when Rowan Vine was fouled by Gary Naysmith in dangerous territory.

Ephraim floated in the resulting free-kick, but Kenny snuffed out the danger to ensure his side return north with a point, with a very late corner Tongue corner from the right amounting to nothing at the other end.

Teams:

QPR Camp, Mancienne, Connolly (Stewart 73), Hall, Delaney, Ephraim, Rowlands, Leigertwood, Balanta (Blackstock 73), Vine, Agyemang.

Subs Not Used: Pickens, Lee, Rehman.

Goals: Balanta 19.

Sheff Utd Kenny, Geary, Morgan, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Stead (Shelton 77), Tonge, Armstrong, Quinn, Sharp (Cotterill 70), Beattie (Hulse 77).

Subs Not Used: Gillespie, Lucketti.

Booked: Morgan, Geary.

Goals: Morgan 78.

Att: 15,383

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).