Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Stoke City

QPR had 21 attempts on goal but Kranjcar's equaliser was only their fifth on target

• Mark Hughes' first return to QPR since 2012 sacking

• Stoke's Peter Crouch with an assist and a goal

• Niko Kranjcar's late free-kick secures draw

A superb Niko Kranjcar free-kick rescued Queens Park Rangers from defeat against a Stoke side forced to pay the price for missed chances.

Peter Crouch set up Mame Biram Diouf's easy header for the opening goal before Steven Caulker headed home at the far post to level before the break.

Crouch's 51st-minute strike seemed to have secured victory for Stoke.

But Kranjcar stepped up two minutes before the end and sublimely found the top corner to secure a valuable draw.

QPR looked likely to be heading towards their fourth league defeat of the season until Kranjcar, their most creative force during an entertaining match, scored his first league goal since February 2012.

Kranjcar's dramatic strike was even more of a surprise as the west Londoners have struggled in front of goal this season, scoring just once in the league before this match.

The draw will be a bitter pill for Stoke manager Mark Hughes to swallow as his team, a constant threat on the counter-attack, were wasteful in the final third and failed to close out the game when victory was nearly theirs.

Three points over his former employers on Hughes' first return to Loftus Road since his sacking in November 2012 would have been a victory the Welshman would have savoured more than most.

Earlier this year, Hughes said he will continue to be judged on the 12-match winless run he had with QPR before his dismissal.

But he has gradually restored his reputation at Stoke, guiding the Potters to a ninth-place finish last season, and even a draw at Loftus Road ensured Stoke, unbeaten away from home this season, are now enjoying their best run on the road since April 2010.

It was a ruthless counter-attack which gave Stoke their opening goal.

Boyhood QPR fan Crouch, minutes after ruining a great move with a poor pass, climbed above Rio Ferdinand to head across goal towards the unchallenged Diouf, who headed home from four yards.

Buoyed at scoring only their third goal of the season, Stoke continued to break forward at pace through Crouch and Victor Moses. The latter nearly doubled his team's lead, shooting fractionally wide of the bottom corner after being put through by the energetic Moses.

The Stoke blueprint was going to plan, while QPR had to deal with the added complication of captain Joey Barton departing the field in the 31st minute because of injury.

But clumsy defending of a Jordon Mutch corner before the break ruined Stoke's game plan. Ryan Shawcross allowed Caulker to drift towards the far post and the defender headed home from an acute angle, despite the presence of three Stoke players near the line.

After a breathless opening to the second half, QPR were soon in trouble again. Injury struck once more, with Karl Henry replacing the injured Mutch, and the hosts were soon behind as a result of Crouch's first league goal since March.

Moses and Crouch were again an irresistible combination as the Nigeria winger, stealing the ball on the left, set his striker free to sweep home with a left-footed strike.

A thunderous Steven N'Zonzi effort drew gasps from the visiting fans but QPR did not fall apart.

Kranjcar and Charlie Austin went close, while questions will be asked of Ryan Shawcross's man-handling of players inside the box.

The hosts, however, could not manage a shot on target until Kranjcar struck in the 88th minute to score the third Premier League goal of his career against Stoke.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp: "It was a vital point for us in the end. When you're 2-1 down with just five minutes to go you're delighted to come away with a point.

"It was a difficult day, it's been difficult all week. Joey Barton hadn't trained much, Jordon Mutch hadn't trained for two weeks and Sandro was injured on Friday.

"We were short in some areas but I thought we showed great character to keep going. It's good for the spirit that we didn't get beat."

Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "There's a bit of frustration because, at the end, we haven't got maximum points which we deserved. Given that we feel our home form will improve markedly, we've got to be encouraged by (our away form).

"In terms of what we produced and chances in open play, we were the better team on the day but you need to manage the game and that's what we need to learn from."

Hughes on reaction from QPR fans: "Rangers fans made their feelings known and got on with supporting their team. It wasn't a problem."

Stoke manager Mark Hughes makes his first return to Loftus Road since his sacking in November 2012

Mame Biram Diouf scores the opener with Stoke's first shot of the game

Caulker equalises for QPR even though Stoke have three players on the line

The impressive Peter Crouch thought he had scored the winner with his first league goal since March