Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Rotherham United: Millers maintain unbeaten start
- Published
- comments
QPR equalised just before the break but were unable to find a winner in the second half
Rotherham United remain unbeaten in the Championship this season after a battling draw at Queens Park Rangers.
Following a low-key opening half-hour, Chiedozie Ogbene put the visitors ahead with his fourth goal in five games after the R's failed to clear a contentious free-kick and his initial effort had been blocked on the line.
The recalled Chris Willock netted a fine equaliser just before the break after a nice exchange of passes with the influential Ilias Chair.
Despite a grandstand second half with chances at both ends, the teams had to settle for a point apiece.
It took almost 30 minutes for a goalkeeper to be called into action as Viktor Johansson got down well to turn an effort from QPR's Tyler Roberts from Ethan Laird's cross around his near post.
The visitors broke the deadlock on 33 minutes when Kenneth Paal was adjudged to have fouled Ogbene on the edge of the box and Shane Ferguson's free-kick caused havoc in the goalmouth, allowing Ogbene to convert at the second attempt.
Roberts went close to an instant reply with an audacious volley but the R's were back on terms two minutes before the break when Willock collected a loose clearance, danced in from the left and played a one-two with Chair before firing into the bottom corner.
It needed a smart stop from Johansson to prevent the home side going in ahead at the interval, though Lyndon Dykes might have done better in space after a clever dummy from Chair.
The influential Moroccan fizzed a shot narrowly over the bar after the break and teed-up Willock who scuffed a shot straight at Johansson, while Manchester United-loanee Laird saw a stinging drive stopped by the goalkeeper following a Chair corner.
Appeals for a penalty after Laird went down in the box under pressure from Cameron Humphreys were waved away while at the other end substitute Georgie Kelly was denied by a timely block from Rob Dickie as he tried to convert a Cohen Bramall centre.
Chair slipped as he tried to turn-in a cross from substitute Sinclair Armstrong and the roles were reversed on 75 minutes when Chair freed Armstrong on a lightning counter, only for the teenager to shoot tamely at Johansson.
Laird fired over from inside the box with eight minutes remaining while a sliding Olamide Shodipo could not turn in an Albert Adomah pass and Seny Dieng kept out Kelly's effort at the other in a frantic finale.
QPR boss Michael Beale told BBC Radio London:
"It's a game of missed opportunities. It's been a tough week for us in terms of results as we have missed big opportunities. To take one point out of six I feel frustrated, but I feel sorry for the players - their efforts deserve more.
"It's that last pass or shot or cross at the moment that's letting us down. I thought Ethan Laird was fantastic and Chris Willock comes back after not playing for two or three weeks, he comes in and scores a wonderful team goal.
"We're close to something clicking so there's a little bit of frustration in my voice and in the air.
"It's frustrating but the positives are that it's a point in a crazy league. The results today are all over the place. I'm aware it's one win in five but the performances deserve a lot more in my opinion."
Millers boss Paul Warne told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We had pockets of the first half but to take the lead is a right Brucie Bonus. It was a bit poor from us, the goal we conceded, not so much the finish but the way we needlessly gave the ball away, we got punished for that.
"I thought we might get one on the counter but in fairness to them every time we countered they countered us back. I look forward to looking at the lad's physical data after that because they gave everything they had.
"All-in-all back-to-back points away from home is good in any league but even more so in this one. I'm really proud of the lads' resilience and togetherness. We're going to need that throughout the season."