Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Cardiff City

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QPR defender Clint Hill heads his side into the lead against CardiffImage source, Empics

Scott Malone's stunning late goal helped Cardiff come back from two goals down to earn a draw at QPR.

The home side took the lead against the run of play when an unmarked Clint Hill headed in a Matt Phillips corner.

Another corner appeared to hit defender Hill's arm before it was turned in by Charlie Austin from close range.

Cardiff pulled one back with Sean Morrison's stooping header, and Malone equalised when he fired in a dipping 22-yard strike.

QPR boss Chris Ramsey will rue his side's failure to make the most of their counter-attacks as the visitors pushed forward for a leveller.

Austin had a shot cleared off the goal-line, while Matt Phillips ran on to a knockdown and raced at the Cardiff goal only to have his angled shot saved by keeper Simon Moore.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was also guilty of missing a late chance for the home side just before Malone's eye-catching strike.

Cardiff will feel a point is the least they deserved not just because QPR's debateable second goal was allowed, but that they conceded both goals when they were on top of proceedings at Loftus Road.

QPR boss Chris Ramsey:

"It's not a good result. We should have taken the points.

"Even before we gave away the two goals we had lots if chances to seal the game and it should have been over well before they scored.

"If Charlie's chance goes in - and the guy's done magnificently to clear it - it would have taken the sting out of them. We also had a one-versus-one just before they scored and Matt Phillips had a one-versus-one as well.

"Cardiff were fantastic in possession and looked dangerous. But we've had balls flashing across the goal and when you haven't taken those chances you get punished in the end.

"We need to work on getting more bodies into the box but even when we did that we didn't take our chances."

Cardiff manager Russell Slade:

"We all went out for a walk this morning and Scott told me he always scores at Loftus Road. I thought, 'Chance would be a fine thing'.

"It was a great finish and gave us something we deserved. They were 2-0 up against the run of play and were fortunate for the second goal - it was definitely handball.

"We were disappointed with the goals we conceded from set plays but between the boxes we had a good structure, good movement and made good choices.

"We just needed a goal - and we got one from a set-play ourselves. I thought our application and attitude were first class."

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