Queens Park Rangers suffered a major setback in their attempts to avoid relegation from the Premier League as they stuttered to a 0-0 draw against West Ham United at Loftus Road.
Charlie Austin had a great chance to give the Hoops the lead with a first-half spot kick, awarded after a handball from James Collins, but it was saved by Hammers goalkeeper Adrian.
West Ham's Aaron Cresswell then had a 25-yard free-kick tipped over by QPR goalkeeper Robert Green, while Richard Dunne's headed goal was ruled out by referee Mike Jones.
The result, combined with Hull City's 2-0 win away at Crystal Palace and Burnley's 1-0 defeat against Leicester City, leaves QPR four points from safety.
Sports Mole goes over the action in West London to see if a goalless draw was a fair result.
Match statistics
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Shots: 18
On target: 7
Possession: 54%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 14
WEST HAM
Shots: 8
On target: 2
Possession: 46%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 12
Was the result fair?
Based on the balance of play, QPR should have won it. Despite being second best in the first half, they should have got themselves in front when Collins's handball gave the hosts a penalty, but the spot kick from Austin was poor and easily saved. In the second half, QPR turned the screw and had plenty of chances to win, including a rightly disallowed goal, but West Ham did well to hang on and had goalkeeper Adrian to thank for a number of great saves.
QPR's performance
Rangers never really got going in what proved to be a tame first half, as Austin's penalty miss took the wind out of their sails against a West Ham side with nothing to play for. They were much better in the second half as the realisation dawned on them that they had to win to keep up with the sides directly above them, but ultimately it was to no avail. Robert Green was inspired throughout the game as he pulled off a number of great saves, while the defence was sturdy and impervious, but the front line was a bit hit-and-miss.
West Ham's performance
Despite having nothing to play for, Sam Allardyce's charges still put up a good fight against an increasingly frantic QPR side desperate for all three points, but they had to be bailed out on a number of occasions by goalkeeper Adrian, while Aaron Cresswell and James Collins - save for his handball - were also in inspired form. The attacking players had some bright moments, namely through Cheikhou Kouyate and Enner Valencia, but ultimately could not breach the hosts' clean sheet.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Adrian: A great afternoon for the Hammers stopper as he held his nerve to make a good save from Austin's penalty, while also keeping out a number of second-half QPR efforts. The Spaniard marshalled his defence well and confidently plucked a host of crosses from the air to relieve the pressure on his back line.
Biggest gaffe
Without a doubt it has to be Austin's penalty. Not only because it was poorly scuffed down the middle, prompting a relatively straightforward save, but also because of the repercussions it could have on QPR's Premier League status.
Referee performance
Mike Jones had a couple of dodgy moments, such as in the 79th minute when Joey Barton slipped and appeared to have knocked the ball out for what should have been a goal kick, but a corner was given instead. On the whole, however, his key decisions were accurate. It was a penalty when Collins handled the ball in the box, and Dunne's header was rightly disallowed.
What next?
QPR: The Hoops, four points from safety in 19th place, travel to Liverpool on May 2.
West Ham: The Hammers, 10th in the table, welcome Burnley to Upton Park next Saturday.
Giuseppe Labellarte
