Half-time: QPR 0 Chelsea 0

Chelsea should arguably have been awarded a penalty during a tense first half at Loftus Road.

Shaun Wright-Phillips appeared to foul Eden Hazard near the left-hand edge of the box but was given the benefit of the doubt by referee Andre Marriner.

John Terry and Anton Ferdinand were under the spotlight in the first meeting between the clubs since Chelsea’s skipper was cleared in court of racially abusing the QPR defender in the corresponding fixture last October.

Ferdinand refused to shake Terry’s hand during the traditional pre-match routine and also snubbed Ashley Cole, who appeared as a character witness for his Blues and England team-mate during the court case.

Tensions were running high – Terry was of course barracked by the home supporters throughout – but a banner displayed among the Chelsea fans before the game proved that, even on occasions like these, tribalism can be put aside.

The banner read ‘RIP Ben Harrington’ – a young QPR fan who recently died in an accident while on holiday.

Once the action got under way, Chelsea started on the front foot and Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar was called into action only four minutes into his R’s debut, producing a point-blank save to deny Hazard after the Belgian had been found by Ramires’ low cross.

Rangers put the European champions under plenty of pressure and Bobby Zamora’s shot brought a save from Petr Cech.

But Chelsea looked the more dangerous side and as well as being unlucky not to be awarded a spot-kick, they went close when David Luiz headed wide from Frank Lampard’s right-wing corner.

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