Premier League: QPR 1 Blackburn 1

A Christopher Samba header earned Blackburn Rovers a point although they remain bottom of the table.

Neil Warnock’s men are still looking for their first home win of the season, after Samba’s first-half effort was enough to cancel out Heidar Helguson’s strike just after the quarter of an hour mark.

Both sides looked to attack and created some good openings in the first half though sadly the second half lacked any clear-cut chances despite the introduction of QPR playmaker Adel Taraabt after an hour.

The first chance of the game went to Blackburn through the unlikely source of QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

Steven N’Zonzi whipped in a cross towards the near post which Ferdinand should have dealt with comfortably, but the former Sunderland man was relieved to see his sliced clearance hit the crossbar.

QPR took the lead in the 16th minute in spectacular, yet somewhat fortunate circumstances, through Helguson.

Good work from Jamie Mackie won QPR a corner which Blackburn failed to deal with, and the ball fell to Helguson who appeared to try to chip a cross to the far corner which instead looped spectacularly into the far corner leaving Paul Robinson stranded.

Blackburn equalised with their next attack through Samba in the 24th minute, who rose to meet a corner and guided his header into the far side of the goal, finding space in the inside of the post which had been vacated by QPR midfielder Shaun Derry.

Blackburn nearly took the lead in the 40th minute after some fine work from Junior Hoillet.

The young Canadian beat three defenders before placing his shot past Paddy Kenny but there was a man on the line to clear the shot.

The second half was frustrating for both sides as they struggled to break each other down, with neither team willing to commit too many men forward as they seemed content with the point.

QPR tried to spark the game into action by bringing on Taarabt on the hour mark and he nearly broke the deadlock shortly after being introduced.

The Moroccan got past Michel Salgado and had time to take the ball closer to goal but went for the spectacular from distance and his effort went wide.

Blackburn nearly scored a late winner through Martin Olsson after some good work from David Goodwillie.

The young Scot capitalised on some poor defending from Luke Young and crossed to Olsson but the Swede scuffed his shot into the hands of Kenny.

Despite Taarabt’s introduction QPR were unable to create another chance as Blackburn defended their point very well.