Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Stoke City: Home team lose ground on Championship leaders

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Tariqe Fosu and Chris WillockImage source, Getty Images
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Stoke City's Tariqe Fosu (left) and QPR's Chris Willock battled all afternoon

QPR and Stoke were unable to find a breakthrough in a lively stalemate in West London.

The home side lost ground on the Championship leaders as they were denied on multiple occasions by Potters keeper Josef Bursik.

Seny Dieng in the QPR goal needed to be alert to keep out a towering header from Aden Flint in the closing stages.

Stoke have now won only one of their last 35 away league games in the capital.

Potters forward Dwight Gayle saw his early strike from a Ben Wilmot cross chalked off for offside after just three minutes - the seventh time he has had a goal ruled out this season.

The R's woke up with Chris Willock and Elias Chair in particular looking lively and Willock was thwarted by big defender Flint on more than one occasion.

City's Liam Delap had appeals for a penalty waved away after a challenge by Sam Field after Leon Balogan was caught in possession in midfield.

Chair and Willock were a constant threat and it needed a superb challenge from on-loan Brentford wideman Tariqe Fosu to prevent Willock going clean through following a Chair pass.

At the other end on-loan Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone's drive had to be cleared out of the QPR goalmouth on 33 minutes.

Gayle rattled the top of the R's bar with a free-kick after Smallbone was brought down 20 yards out on 37 minutes and Gayle dragged another effort wide of the near post three minutes later.

Bursik ensured it remained goalless at the break as he parried away a fierce shot from outside the box from QPR skipper Stefan Johansen.

After the break Chair worked himself some space before crossing for Jimmy Dunne, who saw his point-blank header superbly saved by Bursik.

The England Under-21 international tipped a rising shot from Chair over the bar just after the hour while Willock curled another attempt wide from just outside the area after 66 minutes and an unmarked Kenneth Paal saw a far-post volley smuggled off the line.

Inside the final 10 minutes Ethan Laird became the latest Rangers man to be denied by Bursik and though Dieng had to be alert to keep out Flint's header on 89 minutes, there was still time for Tyrese Campbell to flash a chance wide of the post in added-time and for the Potters to see frenzied appeals for a foul in the area waved away.

The result means QPR have won only one of their last seven home league matches against the Potters.

QPR manager Michael Beale told BBC Radio London:

"They are a really powerful team and they came with a good gameplan, changed from what they had been doing, which was a bit of a surprise and took some time to get used to.

"Alex Neil made the game difficult for us in the first half but in the second half I responded, changed the shape and really pushed, we just couldn't find the goal. I'm pleased with the clean sheet, we've been looking for them and this week we've had two.

"It was a game that neither team was in control of, it would have been a glorious win if we'd managed to get the goal or a devastating defeat [if Stoke had].

"The emotions are up and down. Overall four points and two clean sheets this week I'm pleased with - as a home team obviously you'd want two more but I think the fans can see we had a really good go."

Stoke boss Alex Neil told BBC Radio Stoke:

"I thought first half we were very good, we were the dominant team, moved the ball well, and had some decent opportunities. I was really pleased with the first half. I thought the second half we got a bit fatigued and when that happens you start making poor decisions.

"We started dropping off too much. We lacked composure. We had two good chances at the end but then I think we should have had a penalty in the 92nd minute and if that goes in then it's a great away day.

"I don't think in the second half we were anything like as good as we were in the first. Credit to QPR, in the second half I thought they were better.

"We've got a lot of injuries so to have all that to deal with and get a point away against QPR, who have been going really well recently and have got all their main players available, is pleasing."

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