Queens Park Rangers' play-off hopes suffered a blow as they drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Loftus Road.
Sousa sent to stands in goalless draw
Queens Park Rangers' play-off hopes suffered a blow as they drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Loftus Road.
There were few chances in a lacklustre encounter, although on-loan midfielder Adel Taarabt spurned a good opportunity for QPR early in the second half.
The main talking point came when QPR manager Paulo Sousa was sent to the stands at the end of the first half when he took exception to the treatment giant Palace defender Claude Davis was dishing out to striker Samuel Di Carmine.
The Eagles did not manage a shot on target in the first half, so their fans killed time by booing Wayne Routledge's every touch.
But the ex-Palace winger almost rammed the taunts back down their throats with a superb reverse pass which let Liam Miller in on goal, only for Julian Speroni to keep out his effort at the near post.
Davis was fortunate not to be shown a card after his flailing arm felled Di Carmine after quarter of an hour, with referee Scott Mathieson taking no action.
Box of tricks
Spurs loanee Adel Taarabt was his usual box of tricks for Rangers, and he tested Speroni with a shot from outside the area after dancing past a couple of tame Palace tackles.
Speroni also did well to prevent an own-goal when Nathaniel Clyne diverted a cross towards his own net.
No-nonsense Eagles defender Clint Hill finally persuaded Mathieson to get his card out of his pocket when he body-checked Routledge as the wideman threatened to burst through.
And tempers flared in stoppage time when Davis clattered Di Carmine again - this time earning a booking - and Sousa, having stepped onto the pitch to protest, was banished to the stands.
After the break chances suddenly came thick and fast, with Radek Cerny tipping over a stunning drive from Palace's teenage frontman Victor Moses and Jose Fonte heading narrowly over.
At the other end Di Carmine had a shot blocked after being put through by Taarabt and Routledge prodded Damien Delaney's cross wide.
Taarabt squandered a gilt-edged chance just before the hour when he raced onto Routledge's flick, only to fire over the top.
Rowan Vine came on to huge acclaim for Rangers towards the end for his first appearance in a year following a broken leg, but not even the former Birmingham striker could find a way through.
