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Heidar Helguson was on target for QPR, who were forced to accept a share of the spoils at Preston North End.

The R's would probably have expected to take all three points back to W12 after taking a 37th minute lead through the Icelandic striker, who put Rangers ahead thanks to good work out wide on the left by Ishmael Miller.

But it wasn't to be, as the Lilywhites fought back to claim a point on 64 minutes.

Barry Nicholson it was with the goal and he finished with aplomb, with his effort looping over Paddy Kenny before finding the back of the net.

Nevertheless, Rangers remain five points clear at the top of the npower Championship.

R's gaffer Neil Warnock made two changes to his side's for the trip to Deepdale, with Helguson and Ishmael Miller replacing Tommy Smith and Rob Hulse respectively.

Kenny was in goal for QPR.

Bradley Orr, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Clint Hill started in defence.

Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin were in defensive midfield, behind the attacking midfield trio of Wayne Routledge, Adel Taarabt and Miller.

Helguson spearheaded the Rangers attack.

On a bitterly cold afternoon in the North West, this one began at a breakneck pace.

Indeed, there was little respite for either side in the opening minutes, as play continued to switch from one end to the other.

But it was the R's who were to fashion the affair's first effort on target.

Routledge picked up possession on halfway and, when he drove at the Lilywhites defence and found Taarabt in space on the left-hand edge of the box, the magical Moroccan fired an effort straight at Iain Turner.

Despite a lively opening, there was little to talk about in terms of clear-cut chances.

However, if anything, it was Rangers who looked more of a threat in attack.

Excellent build-up play from the visitors saw passes exchanged between Derry, Connolly, Miller and Taarabt, before the latter's pull-back was curled just over the target from Faurlin on 18 yards.

Moments later, it was Preston who this time went close.

Keith Treacy received possession out wide on the left and, when he cut in past Orr on to his right foot, the midfield man's crafted effort was deflected inches wide of the right-hand upright.

But QPR were soon back on the offensive and edged themselves in front thanks to a superb team move on 37 minutes.

It all started with Derry midway into the Preston half, whose pass found Miller out wide on the left.

The rest was of sheer brilliance from the West Bromwich Albion loanee, whose pace and power enabled him to brush aside two challenges and find Helguson in the area with an inch-perfect centre.

The Icelandic international couldn't miss, as he slid the ball home from six yards.

Kenny was forced into a fine save to preserve the R's advantage on the stroke of half-time, pulling off a fantastic stop from Eddie Johnson 12-yards out, before the ball was cleared safely up field.

Rangers wasted no time in their search for a second after the break, with only the face of the crossbar denying them of goal number two just minutes into the second period.

Connolly's reverse free-kick from deep evaded everyone but the waiting Helguson on the left-hand edge of the box, who shrugged off the attention of his marker before seeing a looping header hit the bar and go out of play.

It was a statement of intent from the R's, who continued to throw bodies forward at every available opportunity.

Preston almost snatched the most fortunate of equalisers on 60 minutes.

Gorkss was deemed to have unfairly hauled his marker 25 yards from the target, before Treacy's deflected effort from a free-kick - that had Kenny beaten - bounced just wide of the left-hand post.

But QPR's luck was to soon come to an end when the hosts drew themselves level on 64 minutes - and how.

Adam Barton's ball forward was controlled superbly well by Nicholson, before his deft lob looped over the outstretched arm of Kenny and into the net.

But Rangers didn't despair, with Taarabt going within inches of restoring QPR's lead with little more than 10 minutes left on the clock.

Kenny's goal-kick was flicked on by Hulse to the Moroccan attacker and, when his initial shot was blocked, Taarabt was on hand to bend an effort agonisingly wide of the right-hand post.

Preston North End: Turner, St Ledger, Nicholson, Treacy, Gray, Barton (Parry 75), Ellington (Proctor 82), Jones, Ashbee, Johnson (Hayes 55), Cort.

Subs: Lonergan, Morgan, Russell, Carter.

Scorers: Nicholson (64)

Bookings: Gray (45), Treacy (73), Ashbee (76)

QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry, Taarabt, Helguson (Hulse 74), Faurlin, Gorkss, Routledge (Buzsaky 86), Connolly, Miller (Vaagan Moen 61).

Subs: Cerny, Hall, Chimbonda, Shittu.

Scorers: Helguson (37)

Bookings: Routledge (34), Gorkss (59), Derry (76)

Referee: Mr A Haines

Attendance: 10, 521

www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~53010,00.html

If there's ever a time to wear a red/black second strip...

Daily Mail and ESPN is the same report?

Gvalt, we almost lost this one at the death!.. But a miss is as good as a mile.

"You can't look back at points that have got away - you've got to look forward."

Thankyou Neil exactly , agreed now make sure we get 3 points off Ipswich !
Dont start with Hulse either please!

MIRROR

Preston 1-1 QPR: Daily Mirror match report

Ishmael Miller has been challenged to prove his Premier League pedigree by firing QPR to promotion.
Miller has all the attributes to be a top-flight heavyweight.

But despite being blessed with a boxer’s build and enough pace to beat ­greyhounds to the hare, the former Manchester City man is yet to fulfil his potential.

In fairness, his career has been wrecked by a body that has seen more breakdowns than an AA man. And that’s why he is at Rangers on loan rather than playing Arsenal and Manchester United with parent club West Brom.

But Miller certainly has the potential to be a major threat to top-class defences on the evidence presented here.

Despite being quiet for long spells, it was his pace that set up Rangers’ goal.

The striker’s burst of speed took Leon Court out of the game and he then wisely weighed up his options before cutting back for Heidar Helguson to score.

Barry Nicholson’s second-half strike denied Neil Warnock’s men three points, but the Rangers boss is convinced his side are on track for promotion as long as Miller stays fit and hungry for success.

Warnock said: “It’s down to him to get back into the Premier League. We have 14 games and he has to show that he can keep himself fit and do well.

“If he can do that, he’s got an opportunity. I see a desire in him. He’s a dedicated lad, but has had so many injuries and perhaps just needs a bit of luck.

“He’s not been fit for a couple of years and had so many injuries. His career has been decimated and he needs to get games to show what he can do.

“I think he can give us something we haven’t got. He’s got the pace to get in behind defences.

“When he’s fit he will be tough to cope with, but if defenders are watching him, it leaves other people with a bit more space.’’

Warnock was clearly ­frustrated by the result and wouldn’t let any of his team talk about the loss of two points against a club well on its way to relegation.

But in truth Phil Brown’s men were good for a point.

And Nicholson deserved to be the hero after more than a year of injury hell. The Scot broke his leg in August 2009 at Peterborough and then snapped it again 15 minutes into his comeback last May.

He said: “I feel fine now. I feel great fitness wise and it’s good to be scoring goals again.”

He is also confident Preston can pull off a great escape.

He added: “We are in tricky situation but in the dressing room we ­definitely believe we can get out of this situation.

“When one win comes we will quickly get two or three and that will cut the points gap.”

www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Preston-1-1-QPR-Daily-Mirror-match-report-Ishmael-Miller-has-been-challenged-to-prove-his-Premier-League-pedigree-article703209.html#ixzz1EXhX8TSl