Bobby Reid’s late penalty denied QPR victory at Loftus Road.
Bristol City, fresh from a dramatic Carabao Cup quarter-final humbling of Manchester United, found themselves behind after Aden Flint’s own goal eight minutes before half-time.
They put Rangers under sustained pressure in the second half and Josh Brownhill hit the post, Matty Taylor was denied by a goal-line clearance and Cauley Woodrow missed a sitter before Reid equalised with nine minutes remaining.
The decision by referee Bobby Madley to award the penalty left QPR furious.
Flint and Nathan Baker went down in the box as Rangers trio Nedum Onuoha, Grant Hall and Jake Bidwell attacked an incoming throw-in, prompting Madley to point to the spot.
Reid kept his composure, tucking away his 12th goal of the season.
The opening goal came when Luke Freeman, playing against his former club, swung in a free-kick from the right and Flint, under pressure from Jack Robinson, inadvertently back-headed the ball into the far corner.
City were lively earn on Korey Smith had a low shot tipped away by keeper Alex Smithies after being teed up by Taylor, who was later prevented from meeting by Joe Bryan’s left-wing cross by Robinson’s well-timed challenge.
Rangers settled and Bright Osayi-Samuel, brought into the side along with Idrissa Sylla, saw a low shot saved by keeper Frank Fielding after being found in space on the left-hand side of the penalty area by Josh Scowen’s clever pass.
The hosts then enjoyed plenty of possession before going ahead courtesy of Flint, who almost atoned for his error when he headed over from Bryan’s corner six minutes into the second half.
Brownhill went even closer for the Robins a couple of minutes later, when he dinked the ball over Smithies and against the post after being teed up by Reid.
Bidwell was on hand to clear the danger – and Taylor’s header from the resulting corner by Bryan was hacked off the line by Scowen.
Woodrow, on as a substitute, then squandered a glorious chance to equalise.
After Smithies had brilliantly kept out Reid’s header from Bryan’s cross, Brownhill headed the ball back to Woodrow, who blasted over the bar from seven yards out.
And after Reid eventually levelled, Woodrow missed a chance to put City ahead when he fired wide.
QPR: Smithies; Baptiste, Onuoha, Robinson; Wszolek, Scowen, Luongo, Freeman (Hall 79), Bidwell; Osayi-Samuel (Washington 64), Sylla (Smith 68).
Subs not used: Lumley, Cousins, Wheeler, Oteh.
This post was last modified on 23/12/2017