QPR 2-2 West Brom: Baggies survive Rs comeback in controversial draw
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Mikey Johnston is on loan at West Bromwich Albion from Celtic until the end of the season
Outstanding finishes from Mikey Johnston and Grady Diangana helped West Bromwich Albion secure a controversial draw at Queens Park Rangers on an emotional night at Loftus Road.
After paying tribute to the club's former great Stan Bowles before kick-off, the Rs took the lead in their first home game since the death of the ex-England striker when former Baggies midfielder Sam Field tucked home following a handling error from goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
But Albion turned the game around in the space of two minutes as Johnston's sensational strike brought them level before Diangana's classy finish put them in front at half-time.
Palmer then saved Michael Frey's poor penalty before he feathered Field's header on to the arm of the covering Cedric Kipre, who pushed the ball over the bar from close range.
None of the officials seemed to realise what had happened with no action taken, other than awarding QPR a corner.
Frey had a goal disallowed for offside as the Rs piled forward and got their reward nine minutes from time when Field grabbed his second after a scramble following a corner.
QPR almost stole it when Steve Cook's goal-bound overhead kick was nodded over from under his own bar by Darnell Furlong, but the point takes them one point clear of the relegation zone while the Baggies stay fifth, 10 points behind Southampton, whose home game against Preston was called off because of a fire near their ground.
QPR boss Marti Cifuentes had wanted his side to play with the panache befitting their former playmaker Bowles, who died last month aged 75.
After a cagey opening few minutes the home side sparked into life when Ilias Chair's deflected cross shot from a tight angle was turned away at his near post by Palmer.
QPR's energy was rewarded with the opening goal in the 17th minute when Chair seized on a poor Albion clearance to fire at Palmer from 25 yards. Palmer could only parry it away and when the ball was turned back in by Lucas Andersen, Field gleefully steered the ball home from eight yards.
Both sets of players paid tribute to former QPR legend Stan Bowles before kick-off at Loftus Road
Despite being second best for much of the first quarter of the game, West Brom found themselves level thanks to another sensational finish from Johnston.
Receiving the ball on the left, the Celtic loanee cut inside past three Rs players and unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box into the top right-hand corner via the post.
It was his fourth goal in six appearances and was another one for his scrapbook to go with similar strikes against Coventry City and Plymouth.
Before QPR had time to clear their heads, they were behind. Another trademark step-over from right-back Tom Fellows gave him an extra yard to drive to the byline and drill a cut-back that Diangana cushioned with his first touch and then smashed past Asmir Begovic from 10 yards with his second.
After Frey headed Chair's inviting cross over from six yards just before half-time, QPR maintained their momentum after the break and had the chance to level when Andersen's cross struck the elbow of Adam Reach in the penalty area, only for Palmer to save Frey's meek effort from the spot.
Moments later, Field's header was shovelled over by Kipre's arm, unnoticed.
But the hosts' persistence never wavered and, from their 17th corner, they levelled it as Field stooped to head in from six yards after Steve Cook's nod-back from Chris Willock's deep cross found its way to him via the crossbar.
Cook almost brilliantly won it but his acrobatic effort from 12 yards that looped beyond Palmer was cleared off the line by a scrambling Furlong.
QPR boss Marti Cifuentes:
"I've been told that West Brom played with two keepers for a while.
"I'm not here to complain. I'm here to make sure my team is better, so if we need to play against two keepers then we need to practice playing against two keepers.
"Football is a game with mistakes and unfortunately refs can make mistakes as well. They have a very difficult job - the second most difficult job, after being a manager.
"On the pitch I thought their keeper made an amazing save - I mean the real keeper. That shows you how difficult the referee's job is. I was shown it (on video) afterwards."
West Brom head coach Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio WM:
"We know they are fighting to stay in the Championship and the quality that they have. When you face teams like that you need an extra-strong mentality.
"I think the game was balanced in the first half but we lost control of the game in the second half.
"I didn't see the Kipre moment - hopefully the decision of the referee has been the fair one because that's what I want.
"They forced a lot of corners and were attacking a lot and creating a lot of chances to score.
"The players put a lot of effort in and today was a real battle."