QPR left frustrated as Swansea City hold them at arm's length

QPR (0) 0

Swansea City (0) 0

Rangers missed the chance to go third in the table after drawing a frustrating blank against a stubborn Swansea.

They had moments when they looked capable of building on an impressive sequence of seven wins in nine games, Luke Amos hitting a post and Lyndon Dykes spurning a golden opportunity.

But in the end, they had to settle for a point and remain very much in touch with the top-six pace-setters.

The Hoops met with plenty of resistance from a Swansea side playing with some ambition and intensity and they looked in no mood to become another notch on the Rangers bedpost.

In an opening half hour of few outstanding chances, Charlie Austin had a close-range header expertly saved by Ben Hamer, but a lineman raised a flag for offside in any case.

Joel Piroe’s turn and shot inside the area was equally well dealt with by David Marshall. The Scottish keeper, who was at Derby, answered the SOS signals sent out after Jordan Archer - deputising for Seny Dieng who is at the African Cup of nations with Senegal - picked up an injury.

The R’s needed to raise the tempo after an even first hour and the spark they needed nearly came from a fine, incisive run by Amos, which ended with the midfielder cutting into the box from the right and pinging a low shot which came back off the inside of the far post.

Dykes came on for Lee Wallace and Albert Adomah replaced Amos, as boss Mark Warburton rejigged but there was no obvious improvement.

In fact Joel Latibeaudiere almost squeezed a shot into the far corner for the Swans after a dart into the left edge of penalty area.

But an excellent chance fell to Dykes after clever play from Thomas to free up Moses Odubajo. Dykes really should have stuck it away, unmarked as he was and just 12 yards out. But his rushed stab at goal was easily blocked by Hamer.

Substitute Micahel Obafemi thought he had won it at the death, but Rangers were saved by a raised flag.

There was late drama when the combative Flynn Downes got into an unwise tangle with Austin and was sent off for a second caution. Austin escaped with a yellow.

The R’s perhaps missed the creativity of Ilias Chair, who was an unused sub for Morocco in a 2-1 victory over Malawi tonight in Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.

They will hope to return to winning ways on Saturday when Reading pay a visit.

Hoops: (3-4-2-1) Marshall – Dickie, Dunne, Barbet – Odubajo, Johansen, Field, Wallace (Dykes 61) – Willock (Thomas 82), Amos (Adomah 61) – Austin. Subs not used: De Wijs, Ball, Dozzell, Walsh

Swans: (3-4-2-1) Hamer – Cabango, Naughton, Manning – Christie, Downes, Grimes, Latibeaudiere – Smith, Wolf (Fulton 66) – Piroe (Obafemi 66). Subs not used: Fisher, Bennett, Joseph, Walsh, Abdulai

Attendance: 12,770