Swansea 1 QPR 1
Jamie Mackie’s second-half equaliser earned QPR a deserved point at the Liberty Stadium.
Danny Graham curled in a 14th-minute opener for Swansea following Wayne Routledge’s cross, but Mackie pounced to haul Rangers level after a mistake by Leon Britton.
Mackie’s goal – his second in as many matches – saved his team from a fourth consecutive defeat as they stumble towards the January transfer window, when signing a centre-back will be manager Neil Warnock’s top priority.
Warnock has been unhappy with his side’s defending for much of the season and tried a new pairing for this game.
He left out Matt Connolly and ex-Cardiff man Danny Gabbidon, with Clint Hill – usually a left-back – playing in the middle alongside Fitz Hall.
But the visitors’ defensive shortcomings were evident again when Graham put Swansea ahead.
He appeared to handle the ball as he controlled Routledge’s cross, so to some extent Rangers were unfortunate. But they were not helped by Hall, who allowed the striker far too much room to pick his spot.
While the R’s have struggled at the back since being promoted along with Swansea last season, City have continued to look rock-solid in the top flight.
They had conceded only twice at home in the league this term so no doubt fancied their chances of keeping out a Rangers team that has had problems in front of goal.
But the Londoners hit back and Joey Barton had a rasping shot saved by Swans keeper Michel Vorm before Hill headed over from Luke Young’s cross.
And Rangers were rewarded for their persistence when keeper Paddy Kenny’s kick was inexplicably headed backwards by Britton, and Mackie capitalised by racing onto the ball and shooting through Vorm’s legs.
The goal gave QPR a huge lift, although they were lucky not to have a penalty awarded against them when Graham went down in the area under a challenge from Armand Traore.
But Rangers, the better team in the second half, deserved their point – and might have had more had the excellent Vorm not produced a fine save to deny Adel Taarabt.
In the starting line-up for the first time since October, Taarabt turned away from his man and let fly with a 25-yard shot Vorm did well to push away.
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This post was last modified on 30/12/2011
