QPR v Reading

QPR 1

Cisse 66′

Reading 1

Gorkss 16′

FT 90 +7
HT 0-1

Kaspars Gorkss volleys Reading in front against QPR

By Owen Phillips BBC Sport

Struggling QPR and Reading are still searching for their first Premier League win of the season after playing out a disjointed draw at Loftus Road.

Kaspars Gorkss's acrobatic volley gave the Royals a deserved first-half lead.

But Rangers, who did hit the bar through Esteban Granero's free-kick, improved significantly after the break and levelled courtesy of Djibril Cisse's cool close-range finish.

Adel Taarabt almost won it late on but Alex McCarthy saved with his feet.

Hope for Rangers?

Three clubs have avoided relegation from the Premier League after failing to win in their first 10 matches of the season: Everton in 1994-95, Blackburn Rovers in 1996-97 and Derby County in 2000-01.

Taarabt's chance on the break, after great work by Cisse, was QPR's best opportunity of an increasingly frantic and end-to-end second period.

But although Reading could also have won it late on when substitute Jimmy Kebe's shot was blocked - and had been much the better side before the interval - the visitors will ultimately have been relieved to hang on for a point after being outplayed for much of shapeless second half.

The point is enough to lift QPR off the bottom of the table, moving them above Southampton on goal difference.

But seeing as neither team had a Premier League victory between them prior to the game, two of the top flight's bottom three had pinpointed this fixture against fellow strugglers as an opportunity to put that right.

And the match - although predictably short on real quality - at least provided plenty of tension and excitement from two teams desperate to get their season up and running.

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QPR conceded poor goal - Hughes

The Royals showed no signs of a hangover from their astonishing midweek Capital One Cup capitulation against Arsenal and played with confidence and discipline from the outset.

Rangers old boy Gorkss misdirected a decent early headed chance and the busy Jay Tabb teed up Noel Hunt who screwed his shot wide.

Their early dominance was rewarded when Gorkss smashed the ball home on the volley after Sean Morrison's looping header came back off the bar.

Rangers manager Mark Hughes had said his side must start winning after a series of decent displays against some of the division's top sides had only produced three points from their opening nine games.

But the patience of owner Tony Fernandes, who has continued to publicly back Hughes, will have been tested again by a sub-standard first-half performance.

Stuttering Rangers were sloppy in possession and, in the main, restricted to a series of long-range efforts.

The shooting threat came from moments of individual quality from Taarabt, Junior Hoilett and, to a lesser extent, Jamie Mackie and Cisse.

Taarabt had at least four long-range strikes and Cisse smashed a shot over the bar after a purposeful run.

Analysis

Simon Brotherton Match of the Day commentator

There were some boos around Loftus Road from the home fans at half-time and Reading were deservedly ahead. But QPR were sharper and brighter and much more competitive after the break and had the chances to take all the points.

But the closest they came was when Granero's fine free-kick produced a brilliant fingertip save from McCarthy during the home side's best spell of pressure.

That dangerous period before the interval - and, no doubt, a half-time lecture from Hughes - sparked the hosts into life.

And their improvement was rewarded when Cisse cleverly controlled Jose Bosingwa's right-wing cross with his first touch and poked the ball past McCarthy with his second.

Taarabt soon tested McCarthy again and was then denied by the keeper's superb reaction stop with his right foot.

At the other end, Reading's Jason Roberts had a shot blocked, as did Kebe after a mazy run.

But neither side could find the crucial breakthrough and both remain winless and in the relegation zone.

Reading manager Brian McDermott:

"It was a good point and a really good away performance.

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Brian McDermott praises Reading's spirit

"We could have had a second goal and I thought if we got that second goal, the game would have been done and dusted. But having said that, Alex McCarthy made a couple of wonderful saves and they hit the bar in the first half.

"We showed great spirit I know these players. People talk about picking the players up [after losing to Arsenal], but it was never an issue. We have a real spirit and we just kept going.

"QPR have some real quality, and Chelsea and Everton only drew here, so this in not an easy place to come to. We'll take the point."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Queens Park Rangers

33 Julio Cesar
03 Traore (Onuoha - 84' )
05 Ferdinand
17 Nelsen
19 Bosingwa
02 Diakite
10 Taarabt
14 Granero
09 Cisse
12 Mackie (Zamora - 81' )
23 Hoilett

Substitutes

01 Green
06 Hill
15 Onuoha
04 Derry
11 Wright-Phillips
32 Faurlin
25 Zamora

Reading

21 McCarthy
02 Gunter
03 Shorey
15 Morrison
17 Gorkss
08 Leigertwood
11 McAnuff (Robson-Kanu - 79' )
16 Tabb
10 Hunt Booked
12 McCleary (Kebe - 62' )
33 Roberts (Le Fondre - 88' Booked )

Substitutes

01 Federici
05 Pearce
24 Cummings
14 Kebe
19 Robson-Kanu
07 Pogrebnyak
09 Le Fondre

Ref: Oliver

Att: 16,797

Match Stats

Possession 55 45

Shots

23 18

On target

12 8

Corners

8 8

Fouls

11 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:26 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +6:11

Djibril Cisse has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.

90:00 +5:54

Jimmy Kebe takes a shot. Ryan Nelsen gets a block in.

90:00 +4:51

The offside flag is raised against Noel Hunt. Free kick taken by Anton Ferdinand.

90:00 +4:16

A cross is delivered by Nedum Onuoha.

90:00 +3:31

Noel Hunt has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

90:00 +3:18

The referee blows for offside. Soares Julio Cesar takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:36

Soares Julio Cesar takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +2:36 Booking

Booking The referee shows Adam Le Fondre a yellow card.

90:00 +1:34

Bobby Zamora takes a shot. Alex McCarthy makes a save.

90:00 +1:19

Hal Robson-Kanu takes a shot. Save by Soares Julio Cesar.

89:23

Foul by Bobby Zamora on Nicky Shorey, free kick awarded. Nicky Shorey takes the direct free kick.

88:07

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Esteban Granero played to the near post, Noel Hunt manages to make a clearance. Samba Diakite takes a shot. Blocked by Jay Tabb. Noel Hunt fouled by Esteban Granero, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Alex McCarthy.

87:34

Direct free kick taken by Jose Bosingwa.

87:34 Substitution

Substitution Adam Le Fondre is brought on as a substitute for Jason Roberts.

87:34

Hal Robson-Kanu concedes a free kick for a foul on Jose Bosingwa.

86:33

Mikele Leigertwood produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

84:34

Adel Taarabt produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

82:47

Esteban Granero takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Mikele Leigertwood manages to make a clearance.

82:47 Substitution

Substitution Armand Traore leaves the field to be replaced by Nedum Onuoha.

82:47

Adel Taarabt takes a shot. Fantastic save by Alex McCarthy.

81:03

Samba Diakite challenges Jay Tabb unfairly and gives away a free kick. Nicky Shorey takes the free kick.

79:49 Substitution

Substitution Jamie Mackie leaves the field to be replaced by Bobby Zamora.

79:49

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Nicky Shorey, Hal Robson-Kanu has a headed effort from close range and clears the crossbar.

77:52 Substitution

Substitution (Reading) makes a substitution, with Hal Robson-Kanu coming on for Jobi McAnuff.