Barton saves QPR and leads Faurlin tribute
Reading 1 QPR 1
Joey Barton’s 78th-minute equaliser rescued a draw for QPR and led to a pre-planned tribute to Alejandro Faurlin.
Rangers were trailing to Garath McCleary’s opener when Barton swept home a free-kick and then ran to collect the number 32 shirt of injured midfielder Faurlin, which he and his team-mates held aloft in celebration.
Reeling from the news that Faurlin faces another long spell on the sidelines after suffering cruciate damage for the second time in less than two years, Harry Redknapp’s side have additional injury worries after a lively encounter at the Madejski Stadium, but were able to pick up a deserved point.
They dominated an opening 20 minutes in which Junior Hoilett’s 30-yarder hit the bar, Charlie Austin was twice denied at point-blank range by keeper Alex McCarthy and Matt Phillips fired into the side-netting after being picked out by Barton.
Reading, who wanted a penalty when Jordan Obita went down on his way past Danny Simpson, began to threaten and striker Pavel Pogrebnyak sent a shot wide and a header over.
QPR then lost Jermaine Jenas to what looked like a hamstring injury and continued to absorb pressure, with keeper Rob Green producing a good save to keep out Sean Morrison’s firm header from Danny Guthrie’s free-kick.
Rangers finished the first half strongly, however, and McCarthy produced two more important stops, blocking Austin’s header and diving to his left to tip away Hoilett’s low shot.
An injury to Richard Dunne meant the visitors had to make another change at the break, with Nedum Onuoha returning to action after two months out with a hamstring problem.
And they found themselves behind six minutes after the restart when McCleary’s long-range effort whizzed past Green and in off the post.
But Barton hauled Rangers level and substitute Andy Johnson almost put them ahead with a late shot which went just wide.
QPR (4-4-1-1): Green; Simpson, Dunne (Onuoha 45), Hill; Assou-Ekotto; Phillips, Barton, O’Neil (Johnson 65), Hoilett; Jenas (Kranjcar 31); Austin.
Subs not used: Traore, Chevanton, Henry, Murphy.
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