Goal shy Charlton and QPR serve up a Friday night stalemate at the Valley

Friday night is derby night at the Valley : Picture by @YTJourno

Championship

Charlton Athletic 0

QPR 0

QPR's sudden fondness for 0-0 draws on the road extended to a third successive away day as their solid defence withstood a first-half onslaught to earn a share of the spoils at the Valley.

It's now seven away games without a win but it feels like a decent enough follow-up to the excellent win against league leaders Coventry last week. Rangers remain just outside the play-off places - close enough to remain interested.

For the Addicks, though, this was a disappointing outcome given they were so dominant before the break - but in the end they had to accept the reality of only their second blank in 25 home games.

That said, they did come close to losing in injury time when only a brave rush from Thomas Kaminski denied sub Rayan Kolli after Nicolas Madsen's flick had opened up the chance - and Steve Cook had a header cleared off the line in what was a rare moment of danger from the R's.

It did not take long for Conor Coady to signal his warrior class. He was already getting his head bandaged after five minutes following a challenge from Harvey Vale which earned the QPR player a booking. That counts as a proper home baptism for the Premier League stalwart.

The Addicks started on the front foot. Two of their men are ex-Rangers players of course and both Charlie Kelman and Lyndon Dykes looked intent on making their mark against their former club. Dykes wasn't far away with a deflected shot which followed some expert pocket-pinching in midfield from skipper Greg Docherty.

Sonny Carey whipped a first-time shot just over the bar after more good work from Docherty to offer up in inviting ball in from the right and the same player had a shot blocked inside the area after Coady had spread a bit of panic, before Joe Walsh was forced to get down low to a free-kick from Luke Chambers that was goalbound.

Coady then almost pounced from close range after another fretful moment for the Rangers rearguard - Walsh doing well to smother, which was the name of the game for the R's during a humbling first half.

Review matchups

It looked like a case of more of the same when we got going again, with an angled effort from Docherty not far over and Chambers stinging the palms of Walsh with another from the left side of the area.

Dykes too came close with two stabs at goal - a volley returning into his path that he then poked narrowly wide.

We did not get much from Rangers until that final flurry, with Vale lashing too high after being released down the left by Richard Kone. The lack of a team-mate up in support forced Vale's hand and the angle and distance were against him.

Nathan Jones threw on Tyreece Campbell and his acceleration and cross gave Carey a half-chance at the far post but it was too difficult for the fast-arriving midfielder to steer the ball in the right direction.

It summed up the lack of quality in the final third which meant the game never quite elevated itself to the hoped-for levels.

Addicks: (3-4-2-1) Kaminski - Ramsay, Jones, Bell - Clarke, Coady, Docherty (Berry 90), Chambers (Campbell 75) - Carey, Kelman (Godden 70) - Dykes

Hoops: (4-2-3-1) Walsh - Edwards, Dunne, Cook, Norrington- Davies - Hayden, Madsen - Saito (Bennie 58), Vale, Smyth (Kolli 77) - Kone

Attendance: 21,290