Half-time: QPR 0 Brighton 0

Matt Phillips went closest to scoring for QPR during the first half at Loftus Road, where the home side might have had a penalty.

With top scorer Charlie Austin in the starting line-up for the first time in more than a month, Rangers have been the better team so far against the Championship leaders.

And when Austin’s 21st-minute cross towards Leroy Fer ran for Phillips, the Rangers winger’s shot beat keeper David Stockdale and was cleared off the line by Inigo Calderon.

Three minutes later, the R’s appealed in vain for a spot-kick when Austin combined nicely with Fer and saw his shot blocked by Gordon Greer’s stray arm.

Earlier, Austin, who has been nursing a calf problem, had a low effort from near the edge of the box saved by Stockdale, who also tipped over a thunderous drive from Phillips.

Rangers were then forced into a defensive change when James Perch was helped off after falling awkwardly as he landed following an aerial challenge on Jamie Murphy.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, in his second match as QPR manager, moved Nedum Onuoha to right-back and sent on Gabriele Angella.

His team continued to press and Grant Hall headed Alejandro Faurlin’s corner over the Brighton bar shortly before Phillips so nearly opened the scoring.

Albion have been second best but look a threat from set-pieces, with Lewis Dunk heading one corner from Rajiv Van La Parra over and another into the arms of R’s keeper Rob Green, who gathered a long-range effort from James Wilson in the final minute of the half.