Late goal denies QPR first win under Hasselbaink

QPR 1 Huddersfield Town 1

QPR are still waiting for their first win under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink after Nahki Wells’ 86th-minute free-kick earned Huddersfield a deserved point.

Rangers, in their fifth match since Hasselbaink took over as manager, went ahead five minutes earlier when Sebastian Polter scored his first league goal for the club.

Polter, on as a substitute, turned in the six-yard box and fired home after Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’ throw-in had been nudged towards the German striker by Nedum Onuoha.

But Wells brilliantly levelled for the visitors with a cracking 25-yard strike.

Rangers again started without a recognised striker in the absence of Charlie Austin and they struggled to create openings.

They failed to muster a meaningful effort on goal until a deflected shot from Matt Phillips six minutes before the break, which drifted well wide and was greeted with ironic cheers by the frustrated home fans.

Junior Hoilett went closer with two attempts in the final stages of the half, shooting over and then wide of Huddersfield keeper Joe Murphy’s near post.

Town, in contrast, always looked a threat and their best chance of the first half fell to Wells, whose header from Mustapha Carayol’s left-wing cross was saved by Rob Green.

Green also comfortably gathered Emyr Huws’ deflected shot and saw an effort from Jason Davidson bounce harmlessly wide of his right-hand post.

The game barely improved in the second half, although Rangers had a great chance to break the deadlock just before the hour mark.

Paul Konchesky’s cross from the left ran to Phillips, who was denied at point-blank range by Murphy’s save, and Karl Henry’s attempt to head in the loose ball was blocked by Mark Hudson.

A decent opportunity fell to Jamie Paterson at the other end 10 minutes later, but he headed over from Ben Chilwell’s left-wing cross.

Hasselbaink’s team seemed to have done enough to clinch the three points when Polter finished nicely, but Wells had other ideas.

And Green needed to produce an injury-time save to deny Huddersfield a first-ever win against Rangers at Loftus Road.

Chilwell delivered the ball to Sean Scannell at the far post but the Town substitute was unable to find a way past QPR’s veteran keeper.