Rotherham United vs Queens Park Rangers. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Rotherham United and QPR at the New York Stadium on Saturday | Marti Cifuentes' first game as Rangers boss ends all square.
Saturday 4 November 2023 18:02, UK
A strike from substitute Georgie Kelly denied new QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes victory in a 1-1 draw at Rotherham in the Championship.
The Spanish coach took charge of his first game with the Londoners following the departure of Gareth Ainsworth and was heading for a win after Ilias Chair put the visitors ahead before Kelly struck.
Chair provided the first spark for the visitors when he dashed in off the left flank before curling an effort just wide of the post from the edge of the box.
With both teams struggling for form and in the relegation zone, it was no surprise to see few chances created in the opening 20 minutes.
Rotherham's first shot on goal troubled Asmir Begovic as Christ Tiehi's bouncing effort came through a crowd of bodies before being touched out for a corner.
They had a better opening moments later but Fred Onyedinma and Jordan Hugill got in each other's way before the latter lashed over the top on the angle.
Hugill again got clear down the right-hand side but this time opted to try to find Sam Clucas instead of shooting and QPR survived the danger.
Chair was proving the visitors' chief instigator and he again cut in from the left before firing off target from the edge of the box.
Onyedinma forced a parried save from Begovic and the rebound just eluded Cafu for what would have been a tap-in.
QPR went in front on 50 minutes and it was the dangerman Chair who produced the magic.
He cut inside and evaded a Rotherham challenge before curling an unstoppable effort beyond the reach of Viktor Johansson.
The away side were buoyed by the goal and almost got another through Elijah Dixon-Bonner but his effort was turned against the woodwork by Johansson.
Cohen Bramall created a good chance for the Millers as he scampered down the left and found Cafu but he could not get enough on a glancing header and it drifted wide.
Rotherham's leveller came on 70 minutes as Bramall delivered it, with his free-kick being lashed in at the back post by Kelly.
Chair again tested Johansson with a low stinging drive but it was held onto by the Sweden international.
Rotherham were also going for the win and came close to taking the lead when Hakeem Odoffin saw his header crash back off the woodwork.
An end-to-end finale saw both sides threaten to nab the points.
Jimmy Dunne was just inches away from getting a touch on Kenneth Paal's wicked cross for the visitors.
QPR should have won it in added on time but Johansson managed to keep out a shot from Charlie Kelman from point-blank range.
Rotherham's Matt Taylor:
"I thought the game lacked quality for the first hour. The game was relatively level and on the back of last weekend I would have taken that given the fragility of the confidence of the squad.
"We have got fight. We just did not show it last Sunday (versus Sheffield Wednesday). I was pleased we were able to come out of it.
"No disrespect to QPR but they did not test our goalkeeper until the goal.
"We fell behind to their best player and probably the best player on the pitch. He has done that all his career and despite all that knowledge, we could not quite stop him.
"It was then a case of where we could get energy on the pitch without losing the structure.
"Haks (Odoffin) has had a good chance but there were good saves from Viktor at the end. They were big saves and he has done it time and time again."
QPR's Marti Cifuentes:
"I will never be happy about a draw especially when we concede from a set-piece.
"There were positive things about our performance. We showed big commitment to compete well.
"We showed stability. We started the second half really well.
"I want to be very positive. There is quality in the squad. I think all the players played at a very good level.
"In the history of QPR, they want to play attacking football and on the ground.
"The build-up will be a part of that. We have technical capacity and good midfielders. Everybody has started from zero and we do not look back.
"It was a top goal from a top player. I am not surprised because he can do these things. He is a fantastic player in this division and my job is to get the best out of him."
