Queens Park Rangers vs Rotherham United. Sky Bet Championship.
Loftus Road StadiumAttendance12,230.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Queens Park Rangers and Rotherham at Loftus Road as Chiedozie Ogbene put the Millers ahead in west London, before Chris Willock earned a point for the home side.
Saturday 20 August 2022 18:32, UK
Rotherham maintained their unbeaten start to the Championship season with a 1-1 draw at QPR.
Chiedozie Ogbene put the Yorkshire side ahead and they held on after Chris Willock's equaliser to pick up a well-earned point.
In-form striker Ogbene opened the scoring after 33 minutes with his fourth goal of the campaign.
Rangers failed to deal with Shane Ferguson's free-kick from the left and Ogbene netted from near the edge of the six-yard box, sliding the ball into the far corner after his first effort was blocked.
But the combination of talisman Willock and fellow playmaker Ilias Chair, which is so crucial for Rangers, enabled them to hit back 10 minutes later.
Willock exchanged passes with Chair and held off two challenges before firing past keeper Viktor Johansson at the Swede's near post.
Rotherham came under pressure early in the second half, with Chair shooting wide and Johansson saving efforts from Willock and on-loan Manchester United right-back Ethan Laird.
With the Millers standing firm and his side again struggling to create clear opportunities, R's boss Mick Beale made a double substitution with 20 minutes remaining, sending on young striker Sinclair Armstrong along with Albert Adomah.
Dubliner Armstrong, signed from Shamrock Rovers last year, has looked exciting during recent appearances as a substitute.
And the 19-year-old made an instant impact again, charging down the right and crossing low towards Chair, who was unable to make contact.
However, when a glorious chance to score his first league goal came his way, Armstrong could not take it.
Willock found space on the left and put him through on goal, but Armstrong could only tamely side-foot straight at Johansson.
While the draw continued Rotherham's encouraging start to life back in the Championship, it also continued a tricky start to Beale's reign at QPR.
Beaten by Blackpool in midweek, a solitary point from two seemingly winnable home matches is a disappointing return for Rangers, whose frustrating afternoon was summed up when Adomah's late cross just eluded fellow substitute Olamide Shodipo at the far post.
Willock's gradual return to fitness is at least a positive sign for Beale.
The former Arsenal man, who required surgery after suffering a hamstring tear in March, has been badly missed when unavailable and his team look much improved with him back. His goal was his second in as many appearances this season.
QPR's Michael Beale: "It was a game of missed opportunities. It's been a tough week for us in terms of results because we've missed big opportunities. To take one point out of six, I feel frustrated but I feel sorry for the players because I think their efforts deserved more. We're close to something clicking. But there's obviously a bit of frustration in my voice and in the air.
"We got in some fantastic areas, our keeper's not had a save to make, but we've drawn 1-1. We missed four massive chances to go in front and then go on and kill the game. We haven't taken them and we're sat here with a point. I'm aware it's one win in five, but the performances deserve a lot more in my opinion."
Rotherham's Paul Warne: "I thought QPR were the better team and obviously they will be more disappointed not to take the three points. We had pockets of the game when I thought we were really good, we caused them some problems, and on another day we might have got a second goal. The lads left everything out on the pitch to get a draw. I think their determination is the winning factor that got them a draw.
"QPR have got some very good players and we were always worried about quick one-twos around the edge of the box. But we also thought that when we won the ball then if we were quick enough we'd get in, and we did that - on numerous occasions in the first half. On another day we might have won and on another day we might have took a crack. So I'm pretty pleased with a point."
