Sheffield United were forced to come from behind twice against battling QPR at
Loftus Road to grab a point and keep their promotion hopes alive.
Ian Rush made his United debut following his loan-signing from Newcastle and
he formed an immediate understanding with fellow Welsh international Dean
Saunders to set him up for their first goal.
By then though Rangers were already in front. After just four minutes Iain
Dowie's shot was pushed over by Alan Kelly and when Mark Kennedy swung in the
corner Karl Ready nodded on for Mike Sheron to head home from under the
crossbar.
The lead lasted just four minutes though. Saunders fed Rush on the left and he
returned the favour with a low cross which Saunders slipped under Lee Harper.
David Holdsworth headed over a corner five minutes later but it was Rangers
who were looking the more dangerous and Kennedy's superb 30-yard pass found
Sheron who shot just over before Dave Bardsley, playing his first game in 18
months, fed Ready, who hooked the ball over.
Rush put in Bobby Ford on the half hour only for the shot to fly just wide
while at the other end Sheron forced a superb save from Kelly after a clever
flick by Dowie and the keeper had to be at his best again on 42 minutes to save
with his feet after Kennedy had shot through a crowd of players.
Rangers continued to dominate after the break and they were rewarded with a
second goal on 53 minutes.
Sheron was fouled by Holdsworth on the edge of the box and when Kennedy's
freekick was blocked the ball fell for Ready to hook into the net.
Rangers were well in control but they chose to sit on their lead and United
quickly forced their way back into it.
Rush and Holdsworth were both denied by Harper in the 62nd minute while the
QPR keeper also saves from Graham Stuart and Saunders until on 69 minutes they
finally grabbed the vital equaliser.
Stuart played a clever one two with Vassilis Borbokis before sliding the ball
under Harper.
There were few chances after that as both teams looked happy with a point but
in truth it benefits neither team in promotion or relegation terms.
Teams
QPR: Harper, Bardsley, Rowland, Kulcsar, Ready,
Morrow (Yates 72), Murray, Peacock, Dowie (Gallen 72), Sheron,
Kennedy.
Subs Not Used: Perry.
Booked: Bardsley, Morrow, Dowie.
Goals: Sheron 4, Ready 53.
Sheff Utd: Kelly, Short, Quinn, Borbokis (Taylor 82), Derry,
Holdsworth, Saunders, Marker, Rush, Ford, Stuart.
Subs Not Used: Tracey, O'Connor.
Booked: Saunders, Stuart, Taylor.
Goals: Saunders 8, Stuart 69.
Att: 9,560
Ref: P Taylor (Cheshunt).
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