BARNSLEY 0
QPR 0

BARNSLEY threw everything they had at QPR but just could not find a breakthrough as the wasted chance after chance to bury a Rangers side more than happy with a point from tonight's encounter at Oakwell.

Reds boss Simon Davey made four changes following the defeat by Norwich with Jon Macken, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Marciano Van Homoet and Lewin Nyatanga all coming into the side. Daniel Nardiello, Diego Leon, Rob Kozluk and Anderson de Silva missed out.

Rangers started the game strongly, backed by a gale force wind, and pegged Barnsley back with two early corners. The Reds responded well with Brian Howard finding a yard of space to let fly with just three minutes on the clock but Lee Camp was able to claw the ball to safety. Howard then swung in a dangerous corner from the left and Camp this time managed to get nowhere near the dropping ball but Fitz Hall was able to hack clear off the line under pressure.

Barnsley should have really been in front on five minutes as Camp made a horrible mess of dealing with Luke Steele's long clearance and presented Istvan Ferenczi with an open net. The big Hungarian could not believe his luck but took a needless touch which allowed Michael Mancienne the chance to clear.

QPR broke quickly seconds later and raced in on Steele's goal but Dexter Blackstock hammered the ball well over the bar when well placed on the edge of the area.

Ferenczi almost redeemed himself on 13 minutes as he cut in from the right hand side onto Bobby Hassell's pass but drove his shot over the bar from 25 yards out.

Barnsley finally carved QPR open on 18 minutes as Howard's through ball sent Macken in on Camp and the striker looked to have dragged his shot into the far corner but for Martin Rowlands' excellent late block. Seconds later Howard let fly from the edge of the area after Martin Devaney's corner had been half cleared but the midfielder lashed a difficult effort well over the top.

The Reds were in on goal yet again on 33 minutes as Howard's pass sent Campbell-Ryce galloping into acres of space down the right. The winger took his time and took Camp out of the game with a fine cross that looked to give Ferenczi an easy chance at the back post but the big Hungarian put his diving headed against the post and out of play.

A rare slip by Stephen Foster allowed Mikele Leigertwood the chance to run at Steele on 44 minutes but the young keeper was quickly out to clear the danger.

Steele was almost caught out by the wind on 48 minutes as he spilled Rowlands' bobbling shot and the ball bounced out to Blackstock but the striker blazed over under pressure from Foster. Blackstock got in again a minute later as he robbed Van Homoet and knocked the ball round Steele but Nyatanga somehow got back to block his shot on the line.

Barnsley kicked into gear on 53 minutes as Howard's cross fell nicely to Campbell-Ryce at the back post and the winger brought a smart save from Camp with his well-struck shot.

The Reds had a massive let off seconds later as Rowlands skipped past Hassell on the edge of the area before drilling a shot past Steele and across the face of goal. Dennis Souza was alert enough to block Buzsaky's follow up.

Substitute Hogan Ephraim caught out Barnsley on 64 minutes as he managed to find Buzacky in yards off space on the edge of the area but the winger fired high and wide with only Steele to beat.

QPR went close again four minutes later after Damien Delaney had skipped past Foster to cross for Blackstock to attack but this time the striker could only head over under pressure at the back post.

Macken then thought he had broken the deadlock a minute later as he fired a shot towards the bottom corner from Kayode Odejayi's flick but his shot struck Delaney and bounced through to Camp. Substitute Leon then brought an outstanding save from Camp on 70 minutes as he arrowed a free kick towards the top corner but the Rangers keeper managed to turn the ball over the bar.

Leon had the Rangers defence all over the place on 75 minutes as he turned one way and then the other before beating Camp but his shot dropped just over the crossbar.

Souza was next to try his luck as he met Leon's corner on 80 minutes but could not put his header on target under pressure from Hall. Van Homoet then flashed a shot high over on 83 minutes after break 50 yards with the ball through a retreating Hoops defence.

Referee Eddie Ilderton let Rangers defender Mancienne away with murder on 88 minutes as he decided the full back had taken the ball when he hacked through Macken from behind in the area. It looked all the world a penalty especially as the defender had gone through Macken to clear the ball but amazingly nothing was given. From Leon's corner Mancienne got away with it again as he appeared to handle Foster's shot on its path to goal.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Van Homoet, Campbell-Ryce, Hassell, Howard, Devaney (Leon 68), Macken, Ferenczi (Odejayi 60).
Subs: Togwell, Ricketts, Potter.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS: Camp, Delaney, Mancienne, Blackstock (Vine 78), Buzsaky (Stewart 90), Rowlands, Connolly, Agyemang, Hall, Leigertwood, Balanta (Ephraim 62).
Subs: Pickens, Lee.