QPR and Fulham locked horns in the Sky Sports
' Monday night live clash
but could produce no more than a dour stalemate - a result which does little
for either side's promotion aspirations.
Perhaps, this was always going to be the case in a game that neither side
could afford to lose - especially the visitors.
History was certainly against the low-scoring men from Craven Cottage doing
anything special against their West London rivals. Indeed, they had not won
at Loftus Road in a staggering 70 years. But while they avoided defeat, the
15th draw of an increasingly mediocre season for the division's big-spenders
leaves Paul Bracewell's side four points adrift of the play-off pace with games,
and the patience of chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed, running out.
For Gerry Francis' men, sitting mid-table before kick-off, a fifth consecutive
draw all but signals the end of their own faint chances of getting back into
the top flight with a late surge up the table.
However, in contrast to Bracewell's precarious position, Francis is as safe
as houses if his young side continue to consolidate their First Division status
after last season's narrow escape from relegation.
This encounter did fizzle and crackle into life early on before gradually
grinding to a grim halt. Fulham were quickest out of the blocks, with Lee Clark
and Kevin Ball establishing a decisive early stranglehold in midfield.
Striker Barry Hayles profited from their gritty beginning, latching on to
a loose ball in the seventh minute. He squared for Karl-Heinz Riedle, but the
once lethal German dragged a rasping shot wide from 15 yards.
That signalled the belated start of QPR and it was Chris Kiwomya who had the
best chance of the night with a header from five yards. However, the former
Arsenal and Ipswich striker was unable to control Rangers' first corner sufficiently
to keep his effort on target.
Riedle then forced Lee Harper into a smart save from his firm header after
Clark's precise cross from the left flank.
There were strong claims for a Rangers' penalty just before the interval as
Kiwomya flicked the ball goalwards and it clearly struck the hand of his marker
inside the area. Much to the veteran's amazement and anger, play was waved on.
In the second-half, Rangers looked the more likely to secure the breakthrough,
carrying on where they left off in the first while Fulham emerged strangely
subdued. Kiwomya missed with another close-range header, this time heading Richard
Langley's fine cross downwards only for the bounce to take it back over the
bar.
The game then headed into a very scrappy spell with neither side seemingly
having the ability to keep possession - or the imagination to carve open the
other's rearguard.
Riedle went down in the box under the close attentions of Karl Ready on two
occasions, but the penalty appeals were half-hearted and rightly ignored.
With four minutes remaining, Fulham so nearly snatched the points as Hayles
latched on to a through ball but Harper, who had looked solid all night, was
equal to his stab from eight yards.
A tame effort which summed up a tame match!
QPR: Harper, Darlington, Ward, Ready, Rose (Murray 64), Baraclough,
Wardley, Langley (Kulcsar 80), Peacock, Beck, Kiwomya (Slade 80).
Subs Not Used: Miklosko, Rowland.
Fulham: Taylor, Melville, Coleman, Morgan, Finnan, Clark, Ball, Goldbaek,
Phelan, Hayles, Riedle.
Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Hayward, Symons, Collins, Davis.
Booked: Phelan.
Att: 16,308
Ref: T Heilbron (Newton Aycliffe).