QPR 0-0 Manchester City
Last updated on .From the section Football
Bottom club Queens Park Rangers held Premier League champions Manchester City to a draw, thanks to a fantastic goalkeeping display from Julio Cesar.
The visitors dominated the first half as Pablo Zabaleta hit the bar and Gareth Barry had a shot tipped wide.
Rangers were a danger on the break, with Adel Taarabt and Loic Remy going close either side of half-time.
QPR continued to stand firm in the second half, with Cesar denying David Silva from six yards.
But a point was the very least Rangers deserved for a spirited defensive display as they stretched their unbeaten Premier League run in 2013.
Since the turn of the year, Harry Redknapp's side have beaten Chelsea and held both Tottenham and West Ham - and this was another performance of real substance.
City looked like overwhelming Rangers in a dominant first-half performance, but the hosts grew in confidence and stature as the game wore on and continue to offer their supporters hope they can win their battle against relegation.
There was no Mario Balotelli for Manchester City, as the Italian striker finalises a move to AC Milan, and Roberto Mancini will be concerned that his side could not find a way past the club bottom of the league.
They had their chances, with Joleon Lescott shooting over the bar after a rare mistake from Cesar and Zabaleta rattling the woodwork with a header from 12 yards after good work by Silva.
Javi Garcia, playing at centre-half in place of the injured Vincent Kompany, also fired wide from 30 yards as City poured forward in the early stages.
While City were dominant in midfield, Taarabt and Remy were a constant threat on the break.
First, Remy capitalised on a quick free-kick to break clear and have a shot deflected wide, before Taarabt countered and forced a fantastic sprawling save from Joe Hart.
Both chances came against the run of play and City looked like taking the lead when Carlos Tevez pulled the ball back for Barry - only for Cesar to tip the England midfielder's 18-yard shot wide.
QPR were content for the visitors to dominate possession, often having all 11 men back behind the ball. The tactic began to bring reward as City struggled to unlock the Rangers defence, which was well marshalled by Ryan Nelsen on his final appearance for the club before leaving to take over as manager of Toronto FC.
Aguero, who famously scored City's late winner when they won the Premier League title with victory over QPR on the final day of last season, was not as clinical and he blazed over from 12 yards.
Edin Dzeko, so often City's saviour from the bench, was brought on and he looked like finally breaking Rangers' resistance when he pulled the ball back for Silva, but the Spanish playmaker saw his six-yard shot spectacularly saved by Cesar.
Both sides had late penalty shouts, with Remy and Scott Sinclair going down in the area, but referee Phil Dowd waved away the appeals.
And while Rangers were left delighted with another gutsy point at the final whistle, City were hoping Manchester United fail to capitalise and stretch their lead at the top of the table to seven points against Southampton on Wednesday.
QPR manager Harry Redknapp: "Of course it is a bonus point, it is a great point.
"They rip teams to pieces home and away, you would take a point off them at any time. It is a fantastic result.
"I wouldn't say it is the end (of the title race) - it is a good result for Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) tonight for sure, but it is still open."
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini: "We lost two points, this is sure. We played well, we had the chances but didn't score - that is all it is.
"We are disappointed with this result because we had a lot of chances to win, we dominated this game but when you play like this and don't score quickly it can be difficult.
"QPR defended very well and got players behind the ball and Julio Cesar was incredible tonight."
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On the subject of Cleverly, he is typical of the modern English midfielder, jack of all trades and master of none (except the crab pass I suppose).
Mario will not be sold.
Mancini has been taking "promise" lessons from Mr Cameron.
They can't keep relying on van Persie, especially if he is killed by a blow to the head from a bag of wind.
No offence but i am quite hoping Liverpool can put another dent in your title challenge on Sunday!
Any thoughts. I think if we play our best we should be good for at least a draw....but it does depend which Liverpool turn up on the day.
Can United slip up ?..possibly, but i have to say Unlikely.
Since when does defending well ever score you a goal? Because last time I checked you needed to be attacking.
Anyhow, good point for QPR but that's what they deserved. City ran in to Cesar on the wrong day.
Especially with the accompanying photo!
The Utd blogs are always flooded with this rubbish. So, I thought I would air the frustration. I appreciate it's a minority however.
Its like a different team now and only four points from safety. No cup run distracting them its certainly doable.
"Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson will go on to become two of the best that England has ever seen."
Liverpool will ruin Sterling liked they ruined Owen (played him too much too young)..... and Henderson has a long way to go.... I mean a seriously long way.... I'm talking timelines that are measured in how long it was since Liverpool won the league.
The classic example of a two brain-celled 'fan' trying to move the 'debate' into his team versus your team. Do you think he thinks it makes him a better fan?
Wher did Liverpool get Raheem from? Any ideas wher he played from the age of 8? It certainly wasn't Liverpool.
And besides, he is very over-hyped. Relies on pace and has fallen off as the season has progressed due to being forced into a squad lacking in strength/options. He may burn out at a young age.
He has achieved little to get such a lofty reference from you.
As for Henderson. Ha Ha
Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson will go on to become two of the best that England has ever seen.
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Glad to see that someone still has a sense of humour.
Priceless.
I spat my coffee everywhere then, cheers for that!!! You do realise you got fleeced for the best part of £20m for Henderson??
@ Davidmcr
I dont agree with your paranoia about the Beeb, but I would say that they seem to have let the Whelan tackle on Garcia go untouched too. That was one of the worst tackles Ive seen for a while and he got away scott free...
An extra game?! Are you for real!
Utd's fixture list over the next few weeks seems like anything but favouritism. Next game is on Saturday (City's is on Sunday having played yesterday) and have a game the Sunday before the Real game on the Weds.
Next four games will be very interesting...
Mr Redknapp has induced a real change in attitude. A bit of belief that "we are Q P R we are Q P R".
Thank you Mr Chairman & I hope you enjoy the rest as I'm sure we're on the right track now.
Maybe, but if anything Zabeleta is showing even more steel this season and Dzeko is as threatening as ever and has better opportunities to be played with Aguero/Silva.
Have to credit Harry (again, quelle surprise I though he was, ahem, rubbish!) raising his team after possibly one of the clubs worst ever humiliations.