Preston NE 1 QPR 1
Heidar Helguson's first half opener was cancelled out as Rs settled for a point in this afternoon's top versus bottom Championship clash at Preston.
Home keeper Iain Turner turned an Adel Taarabt free-kick around the post on 20 minutes, after Nathan Ellington, no stranger to west London himself, had seen an early effort deflected away from danger for Preston.
Faurling then fired over from the edge of the area after Taarabt tormented the home defenders on the byline and pulled the ball back, while Keith Treacy was much closer with a shot from a similar position up the other end for the hosts.
Ellington tested Kenny with a shot from distance on the half-hour mark, the Rs keeper making a diving save, before strike partner Eddie Johnson rippled the side netting when well placed to do better.
But the league leaders took the lead on 36 minutes when a superb run and cross down the left by Ishmael Miller left Helguson with a simple tap-in from inside the six-yard box.
The hosts replied almost immediately when Kenny was forced to get down well to palm away a shot from Johnson, before the same combination for the first goal came close to forcing a second, Miller this time just unable to find Helguson.
Rs started the second half on top too, St Ledger cutting out a Helguson pass which would have put Wayne Routledge clear, before Miller put too much on a ball where a deft touch would have put Taarabt in on goal.
But Preston came within inches of equalising on the hour-mark when Treacy's free-kick took a wicked deflection off an Rs head an crept just wide of the far post, with Kenny completely wrong-footed.
But the equaliser came just a few minutes later, with Kenny being left stranded in no man's land and only able to watch as Barry Nicholson's sublime chip sailed over him and into the top corner of the net.
Ellington fired just over for Preston, while Taarabt took a few pot shots for Rs as both teams looked for a winner, the latter coming closest when slotting wide from just outside the box with 12 minutes left.
But the late pressure was all the hosts', Bradley Orr forced to clear over his own bar as Paul Hayes lurked with intent, while Leon Cort fired over in injury time with the Rs goal at his mercy.
Rs: Kenny, Orr, Connolly, Gorkss, Hill, Routledge (Buzsaky), Derry, Faurlin, Taarabt, Helguson (Hulse), Miller (Vaagan Moen). Subs not used: Hall, Cerny, Chimbonda, Shittu.
