West Brom 1 QPR 1: Baggies extend unbeaten run to four but held by Rs

High-flying Albion went unbeaten in four but were held to a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns by Queens Park Rangers.

James Morrison’s side lost their place at the Championship’s summit to a rampant West Ham on Friday night and were unable to reclaim it after the in-form Rs claimed a point.

The much-changed Baggies were dominant but struggled to create in an-times quiet first half, before the Londoners edged ahead against the run of play via Chris Mepham’s unfortunate own goal.

Spirited Albion responded immediately with Callum Styles’ second goal in 10 days for deserved parity, but neither side could find a winner in a more lively second half.

The hosts had openings and looked the more likely to win it, but also required goalkeeper Max O’Leary to make two fine saves to keep out Kwame Poku and Rumarn Burrell.

Both sides made five changes to the starting XI after action on Wednesday night and a 60-hour turnaround. For the hosts it was a seven game in 21 days.

Big-hitters including top goalscorer Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Ousmane Diakite and George Campbell were substitutes as opportunities were given to Mepham, Rabby Nzingoula, Felix Horn Myhre and a ‘second’ debut for Toby Collyer.

Hugely impressive left-back Styles, who answered the right-back SOS call, was the goal hero with a fine strike.

Others fared well on a frustrating afternoon at times where the radar was just off for Morrison’s side, who now have a welcome eight-day pause until the Black Country derby at Molineux before the international break.

The opening 20 minutes were light on chances at either end, with Albion seeing more of the ball than their London visitors.

QPR, who have themselves enjoyed a decent start to the campaign, looked comfortable and confident with the ball.

Albion’s Nzingoula - one of the five changes - was bright early on and dragged a tame shot wide after a wonderful first touch and dart.

It took until after half hour for the contest’s first opening and it was a clear one.

Debutant Collyer had been workmanlike and tidy and made a good run beyond the defence to the left. A few crossing opportunities had been wasted but his low delivery was pinpoint for Aune Heggebo.

The Norwegian raced in ahead of hurtling defenders and diverted a close-range effort narrowly wide, as the ball cannoned off the stanchion behind the goal.

O’Leary had been a total spectator but more or less his first duty was to pick the ball out of his own net on 38 minutes.

Collyer made an error in midfield as his pass for Isaac Price was picked off. The Rs broke well as Poku fed Burrell.

Great Barr-born Burrell timed his run well and checked in the box to beat defenders, but his strike was well saved by O’Leary. Albion could do nothing, however, as the ball cannoned off the face of the unfortunate Mepham and over the line, with the desperate Nat Phillips unable to clear.

It was a tough bold from the blue against the run of play - but the hosts’ response was admirable.

Patient build-up from the left saw Nzingoula play a pass just behind Horn Myhre, but the Norwegian worked it on well for Styles.

The impressive Styles took a touch to settle himself from the right of the ‘D’ and bent a wonderful low curled finish into the far corner for his second goal in four games.

Away boss Julien Stephan introduced Glen Kamara into the midfield at half-time.

Albion went close to a second soon after the interval as the quiet Price’s free-kick from the left arrowed towards the bottom right corner, but goalkeeper Pierce Charles made a decent intervention.

Jayson Molumby sent an unmarked header at the back post of a corner narrowly wide of the left post.

An open clash broke out after the hour and O’Leary’s best was required to make a strong left-handed save to deny Poku, who had too much room in the Baggies box.

Mepham’s header at the other end was easily saved by Charles before QPR’s Poku fired wastefully over.

Styles lashed an angled free-kick goalwards and Charles clung on well, before O’Leary was once again required with a low save by the post from Burrell’s downward header.

The contest settled down again in the final 20 minutes, with deliveries often wasted.

Morrison’s men were patient in the final third in the closing moments, including stoppage time, and one late chance did arrive.

It fell to the man the hosts wanted, substitute Morgan, but the top goalscorer was only able to fire over on the stretch as the points were shared.

Albion (4-4-1-1): O’Leary; Styles, Phillips (Campbell, 90+2), Mepham (c), Townsend; Horn Myhre (Morgan, 74), Molumby, Collyer (Tunde, 68), Price; Nzingoula (Diakite, 74); Heggebo (Stewart, 74)

Subs not used: Ingram (gk), Maughan, Crowther, Whitwell.

QPR (4-4-2): Charles; Mbengue, Clarke-Salter, Edwards (c), Cirkin (Adamson, 71); Vale, Madsen (Kamara, 45), Varane, Smyth (Scarlett, 36 Lloyd, 82)); Poku (Saito, 82), Burrell

Subs not used: Ward (gk), Morrison, Alemayehu, Obikwu.

Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo