QPR Official Site - Match ReportQPR extended their unbeaten run and mini-revival with a goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace.
As the sun shone, Rangers controlled proceedings but were guilty of missing several chances, most notably in the second half, when Adel Taarabt broke free of the Eagles defence only to blast and effort over the bar with only Julian Speroni to beat.
In true derby fashion, there was an element of controversy, as R's Manager Paulo Sousa was sent to the stands for reacting to a Claude Davis tackle on Samuel Di Carmine.
But the real talking point of the match was the return to action of R's striker Rowan Vine, who gained a valuable quarter of an hour or so under his belt.
In order to stretch the run of wins to three, Manager Sousa made two changes to his starting eleven. Wayne Routledge joined Liam Miller in returning to the midfield, where they were joined by Hogan Ephraim, hero of the last match Taarabt and Mikele Leigertwood.
At the back, Radek Cerny once again took the number one jersey. His back four looked like this: Peter Ramage at right back, Matthew Connolly and Kaspars Gorkss as the centre halves, and Damien Delaney completing the four.
Up front, Italian Di Carmine was picked ahead of fellow strikers Angelo Balanta and the returning Vine, with Damion Stewart, Lee Cook and Matteo Alberti also taking their seats.
Palace handed starts to young stars Nathaniel Clyne and Victor Moses, with on-loan striker Anthony Stokes partnering the latter in attack.
Fellow loan-man Davis joined the evergreen Matt Lawrence at centre back.
It was the visitor's who started the brightest, with Shaun Derry rifling a 25-yard half-volley narrowly wide.
But Rangers were unperturbed by this early scare and nearly went ahead minutes later. Routledge, after picking up possession on the right, bedazzled Clint Hill with quick feet before slipping a fine pass for the breaking Miller.
The Irishman took a touch and tried to beat Speroni at his near post. His well-hit shot was dealt with equally as well by the Argentine custodian.
Clearly inspired by his teammate's skills, Taarabt followed suit trying his luck to open the scoring. With nothing else on, he weaved his way into space for snapping off a strike from the edge of the box that Speroni just managed to beat away.
Speroni was needed again some minutes later, when an Ephraim cross ricocheted off his own defender before heading goalwards, but the Eagles keeper was alert enough to dive on the loose ball.
A quiet half was given an injection of controversy when Davis raised a boot into the face of Di Carmine. As the young Italian fell to the floor both sets of players descended on the scene with the R's remonstrating with the Eagles defender.
Davis protested his innocence but received a booking for the challenge. R's gaffer Sousa meanwhile, for his reaction, was sent to the stands.
Once again it was Palace who had the half's opening chance, Moses curling a delightful effort that needed the fingertips of Cerny to tip it over the crossbar.
But again Rangers regained the upper hand. First, Taarabt slid a clever ball into the path of Di Carmine who tried to beat Davis before shooting, only for the Jamaican to recover and block the effort.
Then, seconds later, Delaney sent over a cross to the back post that found Routledge lurking with intent. The R's winger took it on the volley but steered his right-foot shot across goal and past the far post.
Minutes later, Ephraim fizzed in a swerving shot from wide on the left, trying to catch out Speroni, but once more, the Eagles keeper was mindful of the threat and recovered well.
Very much in the ascendancy but lacking the killer pass that would unlock the Palace defence, Rangers tried Route One football.
Cerny's kick out was flicked on by first Routledge, then Di Carmine into the path of Taarabt. The Moroccan raced into the box, but with only Speroni to beat, he blazed his shot high over the Eagles' bar.
Palace tried to find a way back into the match, but when they did manage a spell of possession, Stokes could only tamely shoot straight at Cerny, whilst Shefki Kuqi headed well wide from a Moses corner.
Then the moment Rangers fans have been waiting for for 12 months. Taarabt was the man replaced by broken leg victim Vine, to a standing ovation for the R's striker.
And he immediately found his rhythm, launching a fine deep cross from the left that very nearly fell oh so kindly for Routledge.
But even with the boost of Vine's return, and dominating the closing stages, the R's still could not find a way to break through a stubborn Eagles defence, and it remained scoreless, and Rangers had to settle for a share of the points.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Leigertwood, Routledge, Gorkss, Ramage, Connolly, Miller (Cook 46), Di Carmine (Balanta 85), Ephraim, Taarabt (Vine 73). Subs: Stewart, Alberti.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, Hill (J.Fonte 40), Derry, Carle, Moses, Danns, Davis, Kuqi (Scowcroft 83), Stokes (Ifill 79), Clyne.
Subs: Hills, R.Fonte. Bookings: Hill (29), Davis (45), Lawrence (60), Moses (82)
Referee: Mr S W Mathieson
Attendance: 15,234www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~45237,00.html
QPR Official Site - Sousa's CommentsSOUSA'S SPOT OF WOE Paulo Sousa was left to rue the referee's failure to award his side a last minute spot-kick, as the R's were held to a 0-0 draw against London rivals Crystal Palace.
Sousa - who saw his side extend their unbeaten run to four matches in all competitions with the point - felt Mr Mathieson should have awarded a penalty when Rowan Vine's cross appeared to be handled in the closing stages, commenting: "I think the referee missed a clear penalty for us.
"It was a handball, but today it was not given, which is disappointing.
"In a fiery conclusion to the first half, Sousa was sent to the stands for leaving his technical area, in the wake of a series of strong challenges on R's front-man Sami Di Carmine.
"It was becoming dangerous with Sami," Sousa told
www.qpr.co.uk.
"There were some really bad challenges on Sami. One was with the players arm, another with a high foot - it's difficult to control your emotions, because I care about my players.
"Sami had blood streaming from his nose, it was a poor challenge.
"I was unhappy and surprised to be sent to the stands. I'm an emotional person, an emotional coach - I was just trying to care for my player."
On the plus side, Sousa hailed the return of Vine, returning to the fray following a year long absence with a fractured leg.
"I was really pleased to see Vine return," he said.
"He played 20 minutes and I am very pleased for him. It was one of the big positives from today."
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