Barry Bannan scored from the penalty spot as Aston Villa claimed a point against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road after Richard Dunne’s late own-goal.

Rangers largely dominated the game but it was Villa who took the lead when referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot in the second-half for a foul by Armand Traore on Gabby Agbonlahor, which Bannan calmly put away.

The visitors looked set to claim the points but Dunne turned into his own net in the third minute of injury time, to ensure QPR collected a share of the spoils.

Villa manager Alex McLeish made two changes to the starting line-up from the side which was knocked out of the Carling Cup by Bolton, as Fabian Delph and Charles N’Zogbia were restored to the side with Nathan Delfouneso and Marc Albrighton both dropped to the bench.

Jermaine Jenas failed to recover from thigh injury which meant Stephen Ireland started a Premier League game for the first time since Villa’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in December 2010 while Andreas Weimann, recalled from his loan spell at Watford, was named among the substitutes.

QPR began with real energy and purpose and Adel Taarabt hit the woodwork in the fifth minute, when the Villa defence allowed him space to shoot and bend a curling effort which struck the top-right corner.

Villa were comfortably on the back foot as QPR tested the visitors’ defence from set-piece situations, with Jay Bothroyd’s header wide from a Joey Barton free-kick the best of the opening 20 minutes.

The hosts had a golden chance to open he scoring in the 23rd minute when Bothroyd delivered a sweeping cross to the backpost for Joey Barton, who stole in front of a ball-watching Ireland, but was unable to get his attempt on target.

Villa were presented with their best chance of the half moments before the break when Anton Ferdinand fouled Gabby Agbonlahor just outside the penalty area.

Bannan curled a brilliant left-footed effort over the QPR wall which seemed destined for the top-right corner of net, but Rangers goalkeeper Paddy Kenny clawed the ball out with a fine one-handed diving save.

Villa’s travelling support came alive after the interval and the team responded 10 minutes into the second-half, when the impressive Bannan lofted a ball over the top of the QPR defence for Delph but Kenny was quickly off his line.

McLeish’s side were given a fortunate penalty moments later when Agbonlahor was shoved by Armand Traore as he challenged for a ball at the back post, although the contact looked minimal.

Bannan took the resulting spot-kick and gave Kenny no chance, as he calmly placed the ball into the bottom-right corner of the net with his left foot.

Villa were much improved but it was QPR who did all the pressing and Shaun Wright-Phillips brought a smart save out of goalkeeper Shay Given with a low shot after finding space inside the area.

QPR pressed for an equaliser but James Collins and Dunne stood firm despite a long spell of pressure and their job was made a little easier, when Traore was shown a second yellow card for a foul on substitute Albrighton.

The home side eventually levelled, though, in the third minute of injury time when Heidar Helguson’s cross was deflected of Dunne and into the net, as Warnock attempted to clear.