Sheffield United 2-2 QPR: Lyndon Dykes scores late equaliser for Rangers

Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers at Bramall Lane on Saturday | Lyndon Dykes scores late as 10-player QPR earna a comeback point.

Saturday 17 August 2024 18:44, UK

QPR fought back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at Sheffield United in the Championship.

Gustavo Hamer and Kieffer Moore put the home side 2-0 up inside 13 minutes as the Blades looked to make it three straight wins in all competitions to start the new season.

But Rangers hit back with second-half goals from Jimmy Dunne and Lyndon Dykes, despite having substitute Jack Colback sent off when trailing 2-1 with seven minutes left.

Four of United's summer recruits were included in the starting line-up with Moore, Alfie Gilchrist, Callum O'Hare and Harrison Burrows all making their home league debuts.

The hosts got off to a flying start, taking the lead in the sixth minute when Hamer traded passes with O'Hare before drilling a low shot just inside Paul Nardi's right-hand post.

The Blades increased their lead when O'Hare slipped the ball to Hamer who reached the left byline before sending the ball across the face of goal and Moore tapped in at the far post.

QPR boss Marti Cifuentes was forced to make a change shortly before the break when Lucas Andersen went off injured, with Paul Smyth coming on to take his place.

A further change to the visitors' line-up was made at the start of the second half with Colback replacing Jonathan Varane.

Rangers pulled a goal back 10 minutes after the interval when Dunne found the net with a glancing near-post header from Karamoko Dembele's corner.

Zan Celar, introduced in the 68th minute, soon tested Adam Davies with a deflected shot as QPR pushed for an equaliser.

The hosts brought on defender Harry Souttar, signed on a season-long loan from Leicester, for his home league debut as they looked to keep things tight.

Michael Frey went close for the visitors with a header which was deflected just over but QPR's hopes appeared to take a big blow in the 83rd minute when Colback was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

But Dykes, who had only been on the pitch for a few minutes, scored an 88th-minute equaliser.

The Scotland international side-footed past Davies after fellow substitute Koki Saito broke free on the right, advanced into the area and pulled the ball back to him.

Neither side seriously threatened to score a winner in the closing stages as the visitors held on for their first point of the campaign.

The managers

Sheffield United's Chris Wilder:

"We left the door open after a fabulous start and we just went off plan, went individual and lost control of the game.

"It ended up becoming a game of basketball. It wasn't that we were getting pummelled, but it wasn't the control we should have had when you go 2-0 up in a game.

"We started doing things that we shouldn't have done and I think the big word is control. We didn't have that. We still created a couple of bits.

"They get themselves back in it and then it's that tight game. When you get to 86, 87 minutes and they're down to 10 men, you should take the game away from them.

"When you make a mistake like we did and allow them that one last opportunity to get something from the game and they take it. I think you've got to give credit to the opposition."

QPR's Marti Cifuentes:

"I think is was definitely a game with two halves. The first one was very disappointing because we knew that was the kind of start we could expect from Sheffield in terms of putting pressure.

"We knew that they could push and put pressure on us from the beginning. It's a team that's just gone down from the Premier League and it's the first game at home and that's the kind of start that you expect.

"Unfortunately, we didn't cope with that and the first half was not very good. In the second half, we were more fluid when in possession and we had the capacity to challenge one-v-one in areas that we wanted to challenge and create chances. Definitely a big difference.

"What we spoke about at half-time was that it was very important to win, no matter what the score in the second half.

"We knew that by scoring the second goal, it could be a game-changer. I'm happy for the guys because we showed the character and the resilience that we need to compete in this league."