Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Swansea City: Fulton earns Swans a late point

QPR have won just one of their last 13 games in all competitions

Swansea City fought back to earn a draw at Loftus Road thanks to Jay Fulton's late equaliser in London.

Fulton levelled on 81 minutes as the hosts paid the price for missing key opportunities to kill the contest.

Jamal Lowe's first goal for QPR had put the hosts in front on 27 minutes as he scored against his former club.

However, Lowe also rattled the crossbar and was denied by substitute goalkeeper Andy Fisher before Fulton punished QPR's failure to find a second goal.

Winger Morgan Whittaker refused to play for Swansea, with the visitors now without Whittaker and Michael Obafemi who are seeking moves elsewhere.

Rangers are chasing Whittaker, who boss Russell Martin said he intended to select, while Burnley are pursuing Obafemi.

It was less than ideal preparation for the visitors and they were second best for long exchanges against QPR.

Both sides created some half chances in a cagey opening 20 minutes, with Harry Darling heading wide from a corner for the visitors.

However, the momentum swung in favour of the hosts when Lowe pounced against his former club, reacting quickest after Tyler Roberts' initial effort was blocked on 27 minutes.

Lowe's goal was his second of the season, with the ex-Swansea striker joining QPR on loan from Bournemouth earlier this month.

There were few clear chances after the hosts went in front as they comfortably kept Swansea at bay until the interval.

Swansea inexplicably almost gifted a goal at the start of the second half when goalkeeper Steven Benda had no option but to handle Darling's dreadful back-pass, with Ilias Chair's powerful shot blocked as the Swans desperately defended a freekick in their six-yard box.

Benda needed to be replaced after landing awkwardly trying to save Lowe's effort that cannoned off the crossbar on 55 minutes, with Andy Fisher on for his first league appearance since August.

Fisher was tested as Roberts shot from 25-yards on 66 minutes, with the Rs' failure to score a second creating unnecessary nerves for the hosts.

Having lost four of their last five games at Loftus Road, the hosts began to defend deeply as the clock ticked down, but they were almost gifted a second goal as Fisher made a mess of a pass, but he atoned for his error by denying Lowe.

That miss proved decisive as Ryan Manning and Luke Cundle combined to create a chance for Fulton who levelled.

It was the Swans who looked the more likely side after their unlikely equaliser, but Olivier Ntcham's late effort was ruled out for offside.

The draw sees QPR remain a point behind the Swans, with QPR 13th and Swansea 11th in the Championship.

QPR boss Neil Critchley said:

"I thought Jamal Lowe was excellent. He scored a really good goal and was a constant threat.

"In two or three weeks' time, when he's a bit sharper and has found a bit more rhythm, he takes one of those chances.

"He could have ended up walking away with the match ball.

"Because of a couple of enforced subs we've had to make because of injuries, he's ended up playing 90 minutes. He was obviously tired at the end but he put a real shift in."

Swansea boss Russell Martin told BBC Radio Wales:

"I am happy with a point. I'm pleased with a lot of the game and frustrated by some of the rest of it.

"It was a poor goal to concede but there was more disappointment with the mentality of the team after that - we went a bit timid, passive and slow.

"We limited them to very little in the first half apart from the goal and at half-time we had a chat about it and wanted more energy and aggression.

"In the second half we showed a willingness to fight. I said we would get a chance and we scored a goal of high quality."