Reading 3-3 Queens Park Rangers: Stefan Johansen's stoppage time goal earns R's draw

Stefan Johansen celebrates goalImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Stefan Johnasen celebrates his 91st-minute goal to earn QPR a draw

A stoppage-time equaliser from Stefan Johansen earned Queens Park Rangers a draw at Reading to maintain their unbeaten start to the Championship season.

A hat-trick from John Swift looked to have given Reading an important victory over the high-flying R's after the home side initially went behind early through a Michael Morrison own goal.

But trailing 3-1, Andre Gray pulled one back before Johansen found the equaliser in the first minute of added time to snatch victory away from the Royals.

The draw extends Mark Warburton's QPR's unbeaten run to eight matches in all competitions while the struggling Royals have now won just twice in 17 league matches, a run stretching back to last season.

Things looked to get of to the worst possible start for Veljko Paunovic's Reading, as defender Morrison bundled the ball into his own net after just 11 minutes from a QPR free-kick.

But with their first real chance of the match, Swift pulled the hosts level on 35 minutes. Alen Halilovic, on his first start for Reading since joining from Birmingham this summer, sent the ball in over the top from the right, where it dropped perfectly for the midfielder to find the net.

The 26-year-old showcased his skill to score his second, and put Reading ahead, swivelling in the box to shoot into the bottom corner on 64 minutes.

He completed his hat-trick and earned what looked like a significant three points for Reading just over 10 minutes later, getting on the end of a pass from Liam Moore.

Yet QPR have been one of the league's most in-form sides so far this season, and were quick to respond. Gray, signed on deadline day on loan from Watford, made his debut from the bench and pulled a goal back just two minutes later to set up a frantic finale.

George Puscas came within inches of putting Reading home and dry, but it was Johansen who broke the home fans' hearts as he scored the rebound after Chris Willock's effort was saved.

Reading manager Veljko Paunovic told the club website:

"It feels like a defeat. The team is still growing, the team still needs time to play together, which is normal at this point. First half we didn't play well at all, but we managed in the second half to play well against a very good team in better form right now.

"Conceding three goals is a must-fix and a must-address thing. It's a priority and an urgency for our team. We have to stop the bleeding."

QPR manager Mark Warburton told BBC Radio London:

"We did dominate 35-40 minutes of the first half and got the goal from a good set-piece. We should have got more rewards. We looked very, very good against a dangerous team that never posed us a problem.

"Then, one little lapse of concentration. To find ourselves 3-1 down, that's bemusing, but that's football. What a response - they deserve so much praise, the players, for their never-say-die character."

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