Stoke held to goalless draw at out of sorts QPR

Stoke City missed the chance to temporarily move into the top six as they were held to a scoreless draw in East London against QPR.

The game had very few chances of note with both sides lacking any real quality throughout the evening and it was a real wasted opportunity for the Potters who could have moved up to sixth.

The point did lift Michael O’Neill’s side above Bristol City who faced Millwall this evening.

It was an open start to the game with both sides playing on the front foot, but it was the home side who created the best opening inside 15 minutes. Ilias Chair sent a brilliant ball into the box which was just about intercepted by Nathan Collins, stopping Lyndon Dkyes from having a tap in.

The visitors struggled to get much of a foothold in the opening spell of the game, a Tom Ince free kick was well wide of the target which signaled just how tough a start it had been for the visiting side.

But Stoke were nearly gifted an opening following a poor goal kick from Seny Dieng which caused Yoann Barbet to make a foul on Nick Powell, it brought a free kick to the away side but Ince was unable to direct it goalwards, sending his curling effort over the bar.

Just over the halfway point in the first half, Rangers created an opening through Yoann Barbet, but he was unable to direct his header goalwards as it went over the bar.

Chair continued to be the home side’s biggest threat, forcing Potters goalkeeper Josef Bursik to punch away a cross before he takes a shot which is well clear of the target. Both sides continued to cancel each other out in what was an extremely drab first half in East London.

Straight after the break, the away side created the best opening of the evening, Josh Tymon went through following a ball over the top and he struck from close range. Deing made the save but the ball deflected off Todd Kane, before hitting the crossbar and going out.

Despite a fast start to the second half, the early stages of the second period mirrored that of the first half with both sides happy to keep it tight, rather than press to take the advantage.

It took Mark Warburton’s side until the 70th minute to create their first chance of the second half, Bright Osayi-Samuel sending an effort from inside the box from close range but he didn’t test Bursik who made a comfortable save.

Moments later, Morgan Fox picked out Powell inside the box but the visitors’ number 25 sent his header over from just six yards out.

The visiting keeper nearly caused his side a problem, he came out into the box and punched the ball away but he didn’t clear his lines well. It fell to Chair who hit a strike but it was blocked by his own player who was in an offside position.

QPR are now without a win in six league games while, Stoke have failed to find a victory in their last three.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt