Chelsea's 100% record has gone and looking back at the 0-0 draw with QPR it is hard to argue against it being a fair result.

A match brimming with intensity but lacking in guile failed to live up to either of the Premier League meetings between the two sides last season. It began with much promise and goalmouth action but slid steadily into a disjointed affair punctuated with few clear-cut chances as the match wore on.

The blame can partially be laid at the feet of Roberto Di Matteo for Chelsea's lack of forward thrust with both Ryan Bertrand and Ramires selected to play in wide positions. With both players more renowned for their energy and solidity rather than any exceptional creativity, the onus was left to Eden Hazard, playing in the number ten role in the absence of Juan Mata, to be the spark plug in the engine. The line-up introduced an unwelcome rigidity and predictability to the system with little scope for the front players to swap positions, the modus operandi that had hitherto worked so well in the opening few matches.

Keeping Hazard central stifled his pace and while he was always willing to receive the ball and try to prise open the Rangers back four this was his least effective Premier League performance. On the few occasions that Hazard did find himself in wide positions he looked at his most dangerous and he – along with the rest of us – was left bemused when referee Andre Marriner failed to point to the spot when Shaun Wright-Phillips appeared to have tripped him in the penalty box. It was not the only questionable decision that Marriner made particularly in the first half where every call went the way of the home side. John Terry was wrestled to the ground by Ryan Nelsen in the area but perhaps conscious of the furore that might erupt should the controversial Chelsea skipper be awarded a penalty in this highly charged fixture, the referee turned a blind eye. There was also a high boot on Ashley Cole that would have warranted a free-kick anywhere else on the pitch but apparently was not worthy of sanction in the penalty box.

But it would be churlish to make Marriner the scapegoat for the disappointing result. As mentioned earlier, team selection was certainly a factor and it was a surprise to see Victor Moses, Oscar and Daniel Sturridge all named on the substitutes' bench with Mata unavailable. Chelsea started brightly with Hazard guilty of missing an early chance and Torres drawing a save from Julio Cesar in the QPR goal but after the first 15 minutes the team lacked fluency and were neutralised as an attacking force.

In fact, until the last 20 minutes of the game it was the hosts who looked far more likely to open the scoring even if they only created one real chance when the unmarked Park Ji-Sung headed straight at Petr Cech. QPR should also have made more of another presentable opportunity when a hobbling Terry misjudged the flight of a long ball and John Obi Mikel's subsequent backpass was played into the path of Bobby Zamora. Thankfully Cech's positioning and composure ushered the striker wide and disaster was averted.

Chelsea only got back into the game with the introduction of Moses. The bustling forward added drive and direction to the attack on his debut, forcing Julio Cesar to save from a tight angle and cutting a dangerous ball back from the byline only for Hazard to balloon the ball high into the stand with the goal gaping.

Sturridge was also brought on and made a positive contribution to the Chelsea cause in the final stages, althoug the main talking point will be about the man he replaced. Torres was withdrawn by Di Matteo but rather than see if his team mates could steal three points watching from the bench he opted to go straight down the tunnel instead.

I hope this show of frustration was a reaction to his own performance with was full of blind alleys and lost possession. If he is unhappy at Di Matteo for his withdrawal then he will find little sympathy from me. With Drogba gone, the stage is clear for him to perform and he failed to do so at Loftus Road. Team spirit is a key ingredient for success but Torres' increasingly selfish outlook is hindering progress. His caustic remarks after Chelsea won the Champions League were horribly ill-judged but could possibly be put down to an outburst of emotion pent-up for 18 months. If this was a hissy-fit, then he has no excuse for it especially as the player who came on for him did more in his nine minutes on the field than Torres had in the previous 81.

Moses, Sturridge and – refreshingly - David Luiz aside, it was a disappointing performance all round.

Follow Phil Lythell on Twitter @PhilLythell

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