Queens Park Rangers vs Stoke City. Sky Bet Championship.
Loftus Road StadiumAttendance14,174.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between QPR and Stoke City at Loftus Road as Rangers and the Potters played out a goalless draw on Saturday afternoon in west London.
Saturday 17 September 2022 18:30, UK
QPR and Stoke played out a 0-0 draw in a Sky Bet Championship match of few clear-cut chances at Loftus Road.
Stoke had the better of the first half, with Dwight Gayle in the thick of the action. The Potters striker had an early goal disallowed for offside, shaved the top of the bar with a free-kick and dragged a shot wide of the target as the visitors caused Rangers some problems.
But Gayle, who later faded from the game and was substituted in the second half, has now failed to score in 38 appearances - a run stretching back to December 2020.
Apart from an effort by Stefan Johansen, which was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Josef Bursik, QPR offered very little before the interval.
That prompted boss Mick Beale to make an attacking change at half-time, sending striker Lyndon Dykes on in place of midfielder Andre Dozzell.
Rangers responded with a lively start to the second half, with Dykes' shot deflected wide and Kenneth Paal having a shot blocked before Bursik produced a fine save to deny Jimmy Dunne at point-blank range after the centre-back had been found by Ilias Chair,
Scotland international Dykes was clearly keen to make an impact, having recently been dropped from the starting line-up after managing just one goal this season and missing a number of chances.
He sent another effort wide as the home side tried in vain to break the deadlock, but Stoke defended well and deserved at least a point.
Chair should have done better with a header from Paal's cross, and the impressive Bursik produced another important save, this time at his near post to deny Ethan Laird after the on-loan Manchester United right-back had robbed Tariqe Fosu.
Having won three of their previous four matches, the dropped points at home will be a disappointment for Rangers.
Stoke, meanwhile, look to be making steady progress under Alex Neil, who picked up his first victory at the helm in midweek at Hull.
Four points from two games and back-to-back clean sheets is an encouraging return for the new boss, whose team almost snatched a late winner when Aden Flint's firm header was pushed over by keeper Seny Dieng, before Tyrese Campbell fired wide in stoppage time.
QPR's Michael Beale: "They're a really powerful team and they came with a good game plan. They're a big, strong team. We responded in the second half with a change of shape and we really pushed. I thought we'd change it and I felt that had quite a big impact on the game. I thought their tactics had a big impact in the first half and ours did in the second.
"But we couldn't find a goal - and if we can't find it then I'm pleased with a clean sheet. If you can't win then let's not get beat (sic). I've got no complaints. Of course as the home team we want to win, but we just didn't have that last pass. It wasn't for want of trying - we had a right go in the second half but just couldn't find the goal. We got in the right areas, we just couldn't score."
Stoke's Alex Neil: "The game shouldn't be remembered for one incident. But I think it's a clear penalty. I've watched it back and I don't know what the referee's seen there. It's as clear as day. The lad has just run across his path and hits him on his back leg. I really didn't understand how he couldn't give the penalty. I couldn't believe he didn't give it. I said to the referee afterwards 'I want you to look at it and if you feel you made a mistake I want you to let me know'.
"From my perspective, and now having seen it back, it doesn't get much clearer than that. If you run across someone and clip their heel and it's in the box then it's a penalty. A foul's a foul. If it's outside the box, I think we all know it's going to be a free-kick. So why in the 92nd minute does it change if it's in the box? It's a penalty. There's no debate for me on it. Unless you're tinted with QPR glasses, I think any neutral would say that's a penalty."
