Struggling QPR still waiting for first win

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Wigan 2 QPR 2

A defensive lapse after Djibril Cisse had given them the lead left QPR still awaiting their first league win of the season.

Ryan Nelsen’s first Rangers goal hauled them level after James McCarthy had opened the scoring.

Harry Redknapp’s side, bottom of the table and in danger of being cut adrift, looked to be on course for three priceless points after Cisse struck with 19 minutes remaining.

But an unmarked McCarthy then scored his second goal of the game to prolong the visitors’ diabolical run.

It meant Rangers set a new Premier League record, having failed to win any of their first 16 games this term.

They made a determined start at the DW Stadium yet found themselves behind after McCarthy’s 19th-minute volley took a slight deflection off Jamie Mackie.

But they equalised through Nelsen’s near-post header from Adel Taarabt’s corner and then had a stroke of luck when ex-Chelsea man Franco di Santo failed to finish following a mix-up between Stephane Mbia and Armand Traore.

Another defensive mistake, this time by Nelsen, handed McCarthy a chance early in the second half but he was thwarted by keeper Rob Green, who also produced a good save to keep out a stinging drive from Jordi Gomez.

Having spent much of the first period on the front foot, Rangers had to weather a sustained period of pressure in the second.

After Green – who had by far his best game for the R’s so far – saved from David Jones, Arouna Kone retrieved the ball and crossed to Gomez, who fired against the bar.

However, it was a mistake at the other end which led to the game’s next goal.

Adrian Lopez gave the ball away and Shaun Wright-Phillips crossed from the left for Cisse, on as a substitute, to put Rangers in sight of that elusive first victory.

But only three minutes later Wigan were level, with McCarthy tucking away Jean Beausejour’s left-wing cross.

A point is of limited value for QPR at this vital stage of the campaign.

And they would have ended up with nothing but for a fine save from Green, who brilliantly denied Gomez in injury time.

QPR (4-1-4-1): Green; Bosingwa (Fabio 85), Nelsen, Hill, Traore; Mbia; Wright-Phillips, Derry, Diakite (Granero 78); Taarabt (Cisse 59); Mackie.
Subs not used: Murphy, Ferdinand, Hoilett, Faurlin.

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