Queens Park Rangers 1 Oldham Athletic 1

Last updated : 06 March 2004 By Footymad Previewer

QPR'S push for promotion suffered another blip as they were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Oldham at Loftus Road.

Oldham had striker Chris Killen sent off after 84 minutes for two bookable offences, the second after being accused of diving.

But the visitors still held on for a draw after Paul Murray's strike had been cancelled out by a Kevin Gallen penalty.

The result means QPR have won only twice in their last eight games and saw them miss out on a chance to go back to second in the Division Two table, after Bristol City lost at Stockpot.

Rangers began the game at a cracking pace, but were simply not ruthless enough in front of goal.

Gallen really should have scored after only one minute, but his shot on the turn was blocked on the line.

With Martin Rowlands in flowing form the home side looked dangerous every time they attacked.

Gallen struck another shot just over the bar and then saw a long-range effort scrambled to safety after he had cut inside cleverly on the left.

In fact, QPR's shot count had gone into double figures by the time Oldham really got a grip on a game.

David Eyres did see a swerving 20-yard volley saved in the 27th minute, but the next time the visitors managed a shot on target it was to take the lead in the 44th minute.

Murray, returning to the club where he first made his name, struck a sweetly-hit left-foot shot from 18 yards that flew into the net.

Rangers fans could hardly believe it and QPR continued to attack after the break, with Gallen sending an over-head kick narrowly over the bar.

The equaliser finally came in the 53d minute, but it took a penalty for Rangers to do it.

Dean Holden was adjudged to have brought down Tony Thorpe in the area and Gallen struck home his side's first penalty of the season to take his personal goal tally to 14 for the campaign.

QPR boss Ian Holloway brought on both Paul Furlong and Jamie Cureton in a bid to win the match and they came mighty close when Mark Bircham smashed a 20-yarder only inches wide after 78 minutes.

Oldham's hopes of pushing for victory were dashed after 84 minutes when striker Killen was harshly judged to have dived when challenged by Arthur Gnohere 20 yards from goal. He was handed his second yellow card of the match, and sent off.

Rangers almost won it at the death but both Cureton and Furlong were both, somehow, denied by frantic challenges in a 90th minute scramble.