Hoops scrape a draw
QPR had the better of the early exchanges with a couple of opportunities in the first 5 minutes, the best chance falling to top scorer Dexter Blackstock. 'Pool did have a couple of early corners but with the Seasiders playing deep, they did end up soaking up some of the early pressure. Blackstock did well to get past Camara but Martin Rowlands failed to beat Rachubka when he should have done better. However, against the run of play, from 30 yards out Gary Taylor-Fletcher struck the ball brilliantly with the outside of his right foot and beat Cerny in the Rangers goal to put the Seasiders 1-0 ahead.
Keith Southern had a long range shot on goal 10 minutes later which went wide during which time Rangers struggled to get back in to the game. Dexter Blackstock should have done better moments later but was beaten by the returning Ian Evatt. From the resulting corner, Rob Edwards cleared the ball before QPR fans shouted from a penalty as Shaun Barker went in for a tackle to take the pressure off the Seasiders goal.
Blackpool were enjoying much more possession than in those opening 10 minutes and again had a couple of chances to add to the lead with two corners within a minute but failed to beat the home side's defence. Martin Rowlands had a decent chance when Cook sent the ball across the goal but he put the ball wide of Rachubka's goal. Dexter Blackstock had another great chance as he was unmarked but tried to take an extra touch and put the ball straight in to Chub's arms. With half time approaching, the Seasiders rode their luck somewhat with QPR failing to take a number of chances in that first 45 minutes and the home side went off to a chorus of boos.
QPR came out strong and with Patrick Agyemang one of two substitutions, he put the first corner of the second half over the bar after some poor marking by the 'Pool defence. Chubs pulled off a fine save from Lee Cook moments later as Rangers piled on the pressure with two consecutive corners and from the second Dexter Blackstock headed the ball in the back of the net, but for the first time in a long while a referee ruled out an opposition goal and it remained 1-0. QPR won a free kick after an hour but Martin Rowlands saw his free kick go over the bar.
'Pool took some of the pressure off and won a corner which David Vaughan delivered and from an Ian Evatt header, Keith Southern saw his shot saved by Cerny. At the other end, the Seasiders were defending deep as they looked for their third away win of the season. With Blackpool looking to score two goals in a game for the first time this season, Ben Burgess had a chance from a Taylor-Fletcher cross but put the ball over the bar. All the pressure finally paid off after 75 minutes when QPR from a free kick hit the bar and Blackstock was the first to react and scored the equaliser.
Marlon Broomes came on to make his debut for the Seasiders in place of David Vaughan as Larry changed it to a 5-3-2 but 'Pool were still getting forward in to the heart of the QPR defence in the final minutes. The Seasiders still had some scares with the Patrick Agyemang coming close on 88 minutes but was denied by Rachubka. In injury time 'Pool had three corners and a free kick to defend but held on to earn a priceless point on the road.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Hall, Parejo, Blackstock, Rowlands, Ramage, Cook, Ledesma.
Subs: Camp, Leigertwood, Buzsaky, Agyemang, Gorkss.
Blackpool: Rachubka, Southern, Evatt, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher, Jorgensen, Kabba, Camara, Edwards, Barker, Burgess.
Subs: Coid, Broomes, Hammill, Fox, Gow.
