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Queens Park Rangers vs Blackpool. Sky Bet Championship.

Loftus Road StadiumAttendance12,500.

Hoops end losing streak

Image: Blackstock: On form

QPR avoided a third successive defeat as they secured a 1-1 draw against Blackpool at Loftus Road.

Blackstock cancels out sensational Taylor-Fletcher opener

Queens Park Rangers avoided a third successive defeat as they came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Blackpool at Loftus Road. Iain Dowie's side earned pre-season backing as promotion candidates, but they have lost successive games to Derby and Coventry. However, Dowie will welcome the point against Simon Grayson's men as Dexter Blackstock's sixth goal of the season cancelled out Gary Taylor-Fletcher's stunning opener. QPR made two changes from the team beaten 2-0 at home by Derby on Saturday, with Lee Cook replacing Akos Buzsaky and Peter Ramage taking Paul Connolly's place. Blackpool, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Coventry at the weekend, named an unchanged line-up. After a scrappy start, it was QPR who had the first shot of the game through Emmanuel Ledesma but his 20-yard drive went tamely wide. Martin Rowlands should have done better for Rangers in the 14th minute after Blackstock had cushioned the ball into his path, but he fired wide from six yards under pressure from a defender. The home side were made to pay shortly afterwards when Taylor-Fletcher broke the deadlock in fine style. He brought the ball down on his chest and let it bounce once before lashing in a 25-yard shot that gave Radek Cerny no chance.

Distance

Ledesma brought a decent save from Paul Rachubka from the kick-off, Daniel Parejo then claimed for a penalty after going down after a shoulder charge and Gavin Mahon had a six-yard shot blocked as the Hoops pushed for an equaliser. Rowlands came close with a header before the break, while Taylor-Fletcher tried his luck again from distance but this time his shot went well wide. QPR made two substitutions at the start of the second half, with Patrick Agyemang and Mikele Leigertwood coming on for Ledesma and Parejo. They thought they had got back into the game when Rowlands' cross was headed home by Blackstock, but the referee felt the striker was climbing on his marker and ruled it out. Cook was denied by a superb save from Rachubka, but Leigertwood's effort from similar range was comfortably gathered by the keeper. Blackpool's response came from Shaun Barker but Cerny was equal to his long-range attempt. Blackstock, who moments earlier wasted a good headed chance, grabbed QPR's equaliser in the 79th minute. Substitute Buzsaky saw his free-kick crash back off the crossbar and Blackstock was alert to head home the rebound. Rangers looked the more likely to snatch maximum points as time ticked away but Blackpool held on.

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