Caretaker boss Mick Harford secured a point in his first match in charge of QPR after a 2-2 draw at Blackpool.
Connolly hits late equaliser as visitors twice come from behind
Caretaker boss Mick Harford secured a point in his first match in charge of Queens Park Rangers following a 2-2 draw at Blackpool.
Charlie Adam's 10th goal of the season in all competitions gave Blackpool an early lead, only for Adel Taarabt to equalise from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second half.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher's goal appeared to have done enough to earn Seasiders manager Ian Holloway three points against his former club before Matt Connolly's stunning goal six minutes from time earned QPR a draw.
Rangers - under Harford's guidance following the departure of Paul Hart earlier in the week - began brightly and Taarabt drove in a fierce shot from 25 yards which required a fine block from Adam.
Blackpool gradually assumed control of proceedings and in the sixth minute Barry Bannan engineered the space for a 20-yard shot which Rangers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme did well to hold.
The hosts' early pressure told in the ninth minute when Brett Ormerod crossed from the left flank and Adam arrived to drive a right-footed shot high into the net from six yards out.
Astute capture
The Scotland international is proving an astute capture following his £500,000 summer move from Rangers and this was his 10th goal of the season.
Rangers sought an immediate response but Taarabt flashed a shot wide from the edge of the 18-yard box.
But Blackpool generally held the upper hand as Taylor-Fletcher hit a shot wide from distance and Keith Southern also went close.
Taarabt offered Rangers' most obvious goal threat but his luck was out again in the 34th minute when his close-range shot struck Blackpool defender Stephen Crainey and rebounded to safety.
Blackpool should have doubled their advantage before half-time when Bannan's dangerous outswinging corner from the left flank was headed wastefully wide by defender Ian Evatt.
Ormerod then fired narrowly wide shortly before the half-time whistle but Rangers drew level in controversial circumstances 10 minutes after the restart.
Referee Trevor Kettle provoked fury among the home supporters when he deemed Seasiders defender Neal Eardley had handled a shot from Taarabt.
Midfielder Taarabt - QPR's outstanding performer - stepped up to nonchalantly dispatch the resulting spot-kick and cancel out Adam's opener.
Hogan Ephraim then fired wide for QPR but Blackpool regained the lead with 13 minutes remaining when Taylor-Fletcher rifled home Southern's low right-wing cross.
Yet Rangers were not to be denied and were level in the 84th minute when Connolly hit a left-foot volley which flew into the top corner from 20 yards.
