Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 2, Norwich City 2.
New boys Michael Frey and Lucas Andersen combined after coming off the bench to give QPR a share of the spoils against Norwich.
The two January signings were sent on by manager Marti Cifuentes after Kenny McLean had levelled before Josh Sargent put the Canaries ahead at Loftus Road.
Andersen crossed for Frey to net his first goal for the club since his move from Royal Antwerp two weeks ago to give Rangers fresh hopes of escaping relegation as their unbeaten run extends to four games.
Jack Colback had put the home side ahead in the first half but the Canaries struck back, and were eyeing up another assault on the top six places until Frey's strike.
Norwich had won three of their previous four going into the game and knew that favourable results elsewhere could see them back in the play-off places for the first time since September.
Rangers have also been in good form lately, however, and they knew that a win, coupled with a Huddersfield defeat at high-flying Southampton, would see them move out of the bottom three.
Hopes of that happening were lifted as QPR began brightly, Wolves loanee Joe Hodge flashing a shot just wide on his home debut, and Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn denying Chris Willock from close range.
Rangers took the lead in the 27th minute as Willock's cross was weakly palmed out by Gunn and Colback rifled the ball back past him.
The lacklustre Canaries had no goal attempts on target in the opening 45 minutes but they were level within three minutes of the re-start.
A short corner routine saw Gabriel Sara tee up McLean and he fired home to spark a Norwich revival.
Manager David Wagner went for the win by sending on top scorer Jonathan Rowe and he had an immediate impact, supplying Jack Stacey, whose cross was headed home by Sargent to put the away side ahead.
Rangers are made of sterner stuff these days after a torrid December and January, and Cifuentes also turned to his bench to change the course of the game.
Denmark international Andersen went on for his debut after his move from Aalborg five days ago, and he crossed for fellow sub Frey, who only played 13 minutes on his debut last week, to turn the ball past Gunn to grab a point.
QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes told BBC Radio London:
"To talk about what is fair or not in football is relative but we played against a very good team and managed a very good performance in the first half.
"In the second half, the goal we conceded was a game-changer and in my opinion probably offside, with the player just in front of the keeper, but we should have done better from that corner kick.
"The atmosphere we are creating here with the supporters, and with the players believing what we are doing, will be massive until the end of the season.
"It was the first game for Lucas (Andersen) and second one for Mike (Frey) and I am happy for them, it was a very good combination, while [home debutants] Isaac (Hayden) and Joe (Hodge) were very good as well."
Norwich head coach David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"Performance-wise there were a lot of good things but our biggest challenge today was to stay calm and not get involved in emotions.
"The players played some good football, put a shift in, came from behind and got the lead, but then unfortunately conceded a very sloppy goal and didn't use a great opportunity [from Ashley Barnes] for a third goal as well.
"Jonny Rowe looks like has a hamstring injury. He trained two sessions last week and that was enough for me to get him in the matchday squad and he got his 30 minutes, but unfortunately with a hamstring injury.
"We maybe have to make a scan in the next few days but we have to makes sure he comes back as soon as he can."
Line-ups
QPR
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Begovic
- 20Cannon
- 5S Cook
- 6Clarke-SalterBooked at 87mins
- 22Paal
- 4Colback
- 14HaydenSubstituted forDykesat 86'minutes
- 7WillockSubstituted forSmythat 66'minutes
- 16HodgeSubstituted forAndersenat 66'minutes
- 10ChairBooked at 79minsSubstituted forDixon-Bonnerat 90'minutes
- 30ArmstrongSubstituted forFreyat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Dunne
- 9Dykes
- 11Smyth
- 12Frey
- 13Archer
- 15Fox
- 19Dixon-Bonner
- 21Larkeche
- 25Andersen
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 28Gunn
- 3StaceySubstituted forSørensenat 68'minutes
- 5HanleyBooked at 76mins
- 6GibsonBooked at 25mins
- 30GiannoulisSubstituted forMcCallumat 86'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 23McLeanBooked at 52mins
- 17Gomes Sara
- 16FassnachtSubstituted forRoweat 58'minutesSubstituted forat 90+7'minutes
- 10Barnes
- 7SainzBooked at 63minsSubstituted forHernándezat 86'minutes
- 9SargentSubstituted forNúñezat 68'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Gibbs
- 12Long
- 14van Hooijdonk
- 15McCallum
- 19Sørensen
- 21Batth
- 25Hernández
- 26Núñez
- 27Rowe
- Referee:
- Ben Toner
- Attendance:
- 17,831
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home1
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home25
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 2, Norwich City 2.
Post update
Foul by Sam McCallum (Norwich City).
Post update
Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Sam McCallum (Norwich City) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lyndon Dykes (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Jonathan Rowe went off injured after Norwich City had used all subs.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City).
Post update
Attempt missed. Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Gabriel Sara following a set piece situation.
Post update
Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Jack Colback (Queens Park Rangers).
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Marcelino Núñez (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lucas Andersen (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Sam McCallum (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Michael Frey (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Onel Hernández (Norwich City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Sam McCallum.
Post update
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Steve Cook.
Post update
Gabriel Sara (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Comments
Join the conversation
That’s the way.
Don’t lose.
As long as we carry on this way, we will survive!!!
U Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssss!!!!!!
OTBC
Taking Sargent off changed the whole momentum of the game.
You don’t win promotion out of this league with timidity.
Why leave Barnes on? The poor old boy is not a ninety minute player.
Two points chucked away.
Very passionate and noisy well done all.
The game was exciting but standard poor,very fair result.
From a work in progress.
I'll take that.