Swansea maintained their unbeaten home record after dominating a goalless draw against QPR.
Defender Alan fills the breach as keeper hurt in challenge
Swansea maintained their unbeaten home record after dominating a goalless draw against QPR at the Liberty Stadium, despite playing over an hour without a recognised goalkeeper.
Dorus de Vries was carried off on a stretcher in the 26th minute after a challenge with QPR captain Martin Rowlands had left the Dutch stopper unconscious.
With no substitute goalkeeper on the bench, defender Alan Tate was given the task of replacing De Vries.
However, Tate was a near spectator throughout the game as the Swans dominated and missed several opportunities to record a victory with midfielder Jordi Gomez going closest when he hit the post from six yards out.
QPR, who would have returned to the play-off spots with a win, offered very little and will be happy to return to west London with a point having failed to force either De Vries or the makeshift Tate into making a save throughout.
Neither team could impose themselves early on in a scrappy start but eventually Swansea began to take control with the home side forcing several corners and it was midfielder Gomez that had the first effort on goal, but his 25-yard drive did not trouble Radek Cerny.
Despite dominating, the Swans were forced onto the back foot after 26 minutes when De Vries was carried off and the game held up for over five minutes.
Influential
The home side did not allow the delay to affect them as they continued to boss the game when influential midfielder Ferrie Bodde twice went close, first with an effort from the edge of the area and then when the Dutchman curled a free-kick over the bar.
It was Swansea who began the second half in the ascendancy as well and Cerny was required to make two saves inside a minute. Gomez had another long-range effort that stung the hands of the Czech goalkeeper and then Darren Pratley's 18-yard drive was again kept out.
Roberto Martinez's men were launching attack after attack in search of the goal their dominance had deserved with Bodde having another effort blocked, the recalled Jason Scotland firing wide from a good position inside the box and Mark Gower's shot being punched by Cerny.
The former Tottenham goalkeeper was finally beaten on 80 minutes but the hosts were still to be denied as Gomez's left-footed shot from six yards out thundered into the post.
QPR eventually mustered their only effort on goal in the 90th minute but Martin Delaney's long-range effort sailed over the bar.
Swansea kept searching for a winner right until the death and Angel Rangel almost took the glory but his 12-yard shot deep into added time flashed wide of the post and QPR held on for a barely-deserved point.
