QPR 0 PNE 0
North End equalled a Club record six straight clean sheets as they made it six games unbeaten with a point in a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road.
In reality Jordan Pickford was rarely threatened and it was North End who looked the more likely to win, particularly in the closing stages as Bailey Wright saw a header cleared off the line and Alan Browne a goalbound shot blocked.
North End were forced into a change to the side that beat Nottingham Forest, Greg Cunningham missing out through injury, with Paul Huntington coming into the back line.
That backline may have started as a three, but it soon became a four, with Calum Woods at left back, with both sides restricting each other to very few first half chances.
The visitors best opportunity came from an effort from former Burnley man Charlie Austin, his driven shot from 20 yards flying wide left of Jordan Pickford’s post.
North End’s best chance came five minutes before the break as skipper Paul Gallagher delivered a ball to the back post to a left hand channel, where Joe Garner volleyed over the bar - this coming after an excellent spell from the yellows.
On the hour mark, North End, who had been soaking up the pressure, had a good opportunity as Garner got a head on Jordan Pickford’s long clearance and it fell nicely to Adam Reach, but his effort with the outside of his left foot flew just wide of Rob Green’s left hand upright.
Will Keane was introduced with 15 minutes to go and made an immediate impression with two strong runs, the second of which drove into the box along the byline, only a tackle from Faurlin denying him and conceding a corner with a last ditch tackle.
With seven minutes to go it was North End who almost broke the deadlock; a Paul Gallagher left wing corner headed goalwards by Bailey Wright and only cleared off the line by Rob Green, scrambling to his right.
On the 90 minute mark Alan Browne hit a glorious shot on the volley destined for the top left hand corner, until R’s skipper Nedum Onuoha got in the way and made a vital block in what was the last real action.
: Green, Hall, Onuoha, Phillips, Austin, Fer, Konchesky, Faurlin, Henry, Hoilett (Chery, 74), Sandro (Emmanuel-Thomas, 30). Subs not used: Smithies, Luongo, Angella, Tozser, Polter.QPR line-up
: Pickford, Vermijl, Reach, Woods, Huntington, Wright, Browne, Gallagher, Johnson (Kilkenny, 90), Garner (Hugill, 88), Doyle (Keane, 75). Subs not used: Kirkland, Davies, Brownhill, May.PNE line-up
: 15,190 (1,024 away fans)Attendance
: Mr R LewisReferee