Rotherham United 1-1 Queens Park Rangers: Points shared in battle of Championship strugglers

Rotherham United susbtitute Georgie Kelly scored a late equaliser against QPR

Substitute Georgie Kelly snatched Rotherham United's equaliser to deny Marti Cifuentes a winning start in his first game as Queens Park Rangers head coach.

The Spaniard, who took over following Gareth Ainsworth's dismissal, looked set to spark an immediate impact for Rangers when Ilias Chair put them ahead ten minutes into the second half.

But Millers striker Kelly volleyed in Cohen Bramall's cross to earn his side a share of the spoils at New York Stadium.

The result - which ended the visitors' run of six consecutive defeats - means they remain a point behind Rotherham, who are 22nd in the table with a game in hand.

Cifuentes made five changes to his line-up, including a full Championship debut for midfielder Elijah Dixon-Bonner, and the visitors battled well to keep Rotherham at bay in the first half.

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was called into action to deny Christ Tiehi from Cafu's free-kick, as well as repelling Fred Onyedinma's attempt just before the break.

At the other end, Chair cut inside to fire a couple of efforts just wide of Viktor Johansson's goal - but the Morocco international improved his accuracy to put Rangers in front after the restart with his first goal since February.

The visitors might have doubled their advantage when Dixon-Bonner's shot on the turn was palmed on to the post by Johansson, with Chair steering the loose ball wide.

However, Rotherham fought back and Cafu went close with a glancing header before Kelly - who had replaced Sam Clucas on the hour - smashed in his first goal of the season.

Both sides could have won it during the closing stages, with Rotherham's Hakeem Odoffin thundering a header against the post.

Chris Willock's effort for Rangers was charged down, while Johansson foiled substitute Charlie Kelman in stoppage time and Sam Field could only bundle the rebound wide.

Rotherham manager Matt Taylor told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We never fully got to grips with his [Ilias Chair's] position on the pitch and what he wanted to do. We had to find a way of adding quality to our execution and unfortunately first half we didn't have that enough, but second half we found a different way.

"We had to show what we stand for in terms of showing spirit and character and a little bit of hustle and bustle at the top of the pitch to get back in the game.

"It was a set-piece moment and we had the right bodies in the right areas. We finally landed the ball where we wanted it and no-one better to be on that than Georgie Kelly.

"If there was ever a moment in a game which needed him, it was certainly today. He's a fantastic impact player."

QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes told BBC London 94.9:

"When I think about the performance, there are some encouraging and positive things we can take from today's game. When I think about the result, I'm not very happy - we had the chances to win, a clear one at the end as well.

"He [Chair] had a very good performance, not only the goal - he was very important today and I'm sure he will be in the future.

"They are showing commitment, they want to work to reverse the situation. There's quality in the squad and I'm very positive about the things we can improve.

"At the same time we need to be aware that the Championship is an extremely demanding competition - we need to start to get results very soon because the other teams will not wait for us."