Inconsistent Coca-Cola Championship play-off chasers Cardiff had to settle for a point against mid-table Queens Park Rangers, who had drawn their three previous games.

The away side dominated the early exchanges but found the Cardiff defence - and Riccy Scimeca in particular - resolute, as both sides failed to create any noteworthy chances.

The first effort on goal came from Cardiff in the 18th minute, as Joe Ledley's 25-yard left-foot effort flew wide of Paul Jones' left-hand post.

Cardiff's Glenn Loovens was then booked for a lunge at QPR's top scorer Gareth Ainsworth three minutes later, as City increased the pressure on their visitors.

The home team began to take greater charge of a tight game as the first half progressed, with Jason Koumas pulling the creative strings in midfield.

However Dave Jones' men were unable to translate their growing dominance into chances as the game became bogged down in midfield. Both sides wasted attacking opportunities through a string of offsides, with Cameron Jerome the most culpable.

The influential Koumas provided Cardiff top scorer Jerome with an opportunity to increase his season's tally to 17 in the league in the 38th minute, but his header was blocked by the impressive Danny Shittu.

Koumas was in the thick of the action again two minutes later but his 25-yarder was blocked by Marc Bircham.

Rangers did not produce their first effort on goal until three minutes before half-time when Ainsworth put a right-foot effort wide from 20 yards.

QPR started the second period brightly, Ainsworth forcing a save from Neil Alexander with a 20-yard free-kick three minutes after the restart.

The action was soon back at the other end though, where Jerome forced a parried save from veteran keeper Jones with a rasping 18-yard drive from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Jerome continued to frustrate the home support, however, by repeatedly straying offside.

Hoops striker Marc Nygaard burst into action on the hour-mark, as the suddenly busy Alexander parried his close-range effort away for a corner, but he only had to watch when Ainsworth fired wide five minutes later.

Counterpart Jones was then called into action to catch an effort from City's transfer window capture Steven Thompson.

Rangers introduced veteran marksman Paul Furlong to try to inspire a late victory and he forced Alexander into action after just a minute on the pitch with an 18-yard effort.

The Bluebirds responded almost instantly through a long-range Kevin Cooper left-footer which flew wide.

Both teams pushed in the final minutes, but lacked the quality to create a match-winning chance.

Teams:

Cardiff Alexander, Barker, Purse, Loovens, Scimeca, Ardley,Koumas, Ledley, Cooper (Weston 77), Thompson, Jerome.

Subs Not Used: Cox, Boland, Ndumbu-Nsungu, Worgan.

Booked: Loovens.

QPR Jones, Bignot, Milanese, Evatt, Shittu, Bircham,Ainsworth, Cook, Lomas, Youssouf (Furlong 72),Nygaard (Langley 89).

Subs Not Used: Royce, Santos, Baidoo.

Att: 14,271

Ref: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).