A brace from the returning Charlie Austin saw Queens Park Rangers recover from two goals down to record a 2-2 draw during their home clash with 10-man Brighton & Hove Albion this evening.
It seemed that the league-leading visitors were going to head back to the South Coast with all three points in tow thanks to goals from Dale Stephens and Rajiv van La Parra early in the second half, only for the clinical Austin to intervene with two goals either side of Lewis Dunk's dismissal.
They has proven to be costly dropped points for Brighton, who have slipped to second in the Championship behind Middlesbrough by virtue of goal difference.
Chances were few and far between during the opening 45 minutes at Loftus Road, but the ones that were created went the way of the home side.
Early on Austin and Matt Phillips both called Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale into action, while later in the half Phillips's effort was cleared off the line by Inigo Calderon.
The visiting outfit posed little threat during the first half, but just eight minutes after the restart, Chris Hughton's men broke the deadlock. QPR failed to clear a corner and they were duly punished by Stephens, who beat Rob Green with an acrobatic finish.
Then, just two minutes later the Seagulls found the net for a second time. Van La Parra was the scorer with a swerving shot from 35 yards out, which was the winger's second goal for the club following his recent loan switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Having fallen two goals behind, QPR's response was largely spearheaded by their talisman Austin. The number nine forced Stockdale to make two saves in quick succession, one from a header and another from a volleyed effort.
However, he finally got the better of the away side's keeper in the 65th minute. Phillips's cross found Austin and having swivelled inside the Brighton box, he then proceeded to fire a low shot inside Stockdale's near post.
With the arrears now reduced QPR set about hunting an equalising goal, and their quest was aided seven minutes from time when Brighton defender Dunk caught Alejandro Faurlin on the ankle with a late challenge, leaving the referee little option but to brandish a second yellow card.
It took the hosts just five minutes to make the most of their numerical advantage courtesy of Austin's 10th goal of the season. The centre-forward wrestled himself enough space in the area to convert a headed opportunity from six yards out.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's charges dominated the seven-minute injury time period and they went close to grabbing a late winner through Phillips, but the reported West Bromwich Albion transfer target's strike from distance skidded wide of the post.
Liam Apicella
