Queens Park Rangers equalled their total February point haul by drawing 1-1 with Leeds United on the first day of March this afternoon.
Harry Redknapp's side came into today's Championship game with their automatic-promotion hopes drifting further away after three straight losses and got off to a bad start when Richard Dunne fouled Ross McCormack to give Leeds a penalty.
The division's top scorer fluffed his lines from 12 yards, though, as his weak effort was saved by Robert Green.
He didn't dwell on the miss, however, and soon put Leeds ahead with a 25-yard free kick that was helped into the corner by a slight deflection.
QPR equalised just before half time when Jermaine Jenas played a one-two with Kevin Doyle before stroking into the corner from the edge of the area.
There was no further goal after the interval as both teams appeared content with a point each.
Here, Sports Mole picks the bones out of today's game at Loftus Road.
Match statistics
QPR
Shots: 8
On target: 4
Possession: 58%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 9
Leeds
Shots: 8
On target: 4
Possession: 42%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 18
Was the result fair?
A draw felt right come full time. Leeds were excellent for the first 40 minutes and didn't really deserve to be being held at half time. After the break, though, QPR were the better team as the visitors' intensity dropped off. Neither side really went for it in the closing stages though and a point apiece was right.
QPR's performance
The home side looked like a team low on confidence early on and Dunne's challenge on McCormack was a risky one. Slow-motion replays show that the Irishman did get the slightest of touches on the ball, but you can see why referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot even though his assistant signalled for a corner. Green did well to see where McCormack was going and save his tame penalty but he could do nothing about the Scot's free kick, which was curling straight towards him until it flicked off Armand Traore and into the corner. It wasn't until just before the break that QPR finally started stringing some passes together and it resulted in the goal as Jenas's clever movement was followed by a cool finish. After the break, Traore had a great chance moments after the break but that was about as good as it got for Rangers. Clint Hill won the reverse fixture between these two and he thought he had done it again in the dying seconds but was rightly flagged offside. Favourites for promotion at the start of the season, QPR are now five without a win in the league and might just have to settle for a place in the playoffs if they don't sort it out soon. If not, it could be worse.
Leeds's performance
Leeds themselves aren't in the best of form and are now winless in three after today's result. They are clinging on to hopes of squeezing into the playoffs and on the basis of today's display, they certainly could make a late dash for the top six. They were superb in closing down QPR in the first half but did seem to lose their legs after half time. Although his penalty was pants, McCormack didn't shy away from the free-kick opportunity and got some luck when it was diverted past Green. He now has as many league goals as Luis Suarez this season. Leeds fans were hoping to see fireworks from midweek loan signing Connor Wickham and although he didn't blow QPR away, he linked up nicely with McCormack up front; if they can continue to have a good relationship, then all defences in the league should be very afraid. A much better performance than last week's flat display at Middlesbrough, that's for sure.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Nedum Onuoha: Hard to pick one man who stood out today but we're going to reward QPR centre-back Onuoha for some solid defending and two superb last-ditch challenges that prevented clear goalscoring opportunities.
Biggest gaffe
He may be the top scorer in the Championship, but McCormack's penalty really was a poor one as his lacklustre run-up led to a limp spot kick that was easily saved by Green.
Referee performance
Premier League regular Foy had a pretty good game with the whistle. Although QPR could argue that both the penalty and the free kick were the wrong calls, you can also see why he blew the whistle. Apart from that, there was little for Foy to worry about and he will thank his linesman for rightly flagging Hill offside in the final moments.
What next?
QPR: Next up for Rangers is a trip to Birmingham City to face Lee Clark's Blues in a week.
Leeds: McDermott's men, meanwhile, host Bolton Wanderers next Saturday.
Pascal Lemesre
