Half-time: QPR 1 Reading 1

Deniss Rakels equalised after Grant Hall’s first goal for QPR had put them ahead at Loftus Road.

Hall, outstanding for Rangers this season, scored with a looping header from Alejandro Faurlin’s left-wing corner 10 minutes before half-time.

Tjaronn Chery had gone closest to scoring before Hall rose to meet Faurlin’s delivery and Oliver Norwood was unable to stop the centre-back’s header going in at the far post.

Ali Al-Habsi made two comfortable early saves, gathering Ben Gladwin’s header and Sebastian Polter’s shot.

But the Reading keeper was tested by Chery’s 28th-minute free-kick, diving to his left to deny the Dutch midfielder what would have been his sixth goal in his last seven home matches.

At the other end, Reading created chances before eventually finding the net.

Stephen Quinn’s left-wing cross was steered into the side netting by Yann Kermorgant from close range.

Goalkeeper Matt Ingram, making his home debut for QPR, also saw a dipping shot from Rakels flash narrowly over before Royals midfielder Simon Cox sent a right-footed volley wide of the target.

But there was no left-off for Rangers when Rakels levelled six minutes after Hall had opened the scoring.

Andrew Taylor crossed from the left and Kermogrant’s skilful first-time lay-off teed up the Latvian, who finished emphatically – unlike when he found himself through on goal a minute before the interval and blazed wastefully over the bar.

Ingram, Gladwin and Polter were brought into the starting line-up along with 19-year-old left-back Cole Kpekawa, who is making his full league debut for the R’s.