Hughes makes another point as time runs out
PA PhotosMark Hughes endured another frustrating day against ReadingIt is difficult to see exactly what Mark Hughes could have done differently over the last three games, and yet he will be waking up on Monday morning (after a good night's snoring, no doubt) with the Sword of Damocles hanging over his tenure at Loftus Road.
It could have all been so different against a fragile, one-dimensional Reading side that are unlikely to push their way out of the bottom three this season. The Royals attack down the wings, push desperately for set-pieces and fade in the second half because of their high octane workrate. In short, if they can't put more than one past you, it is difficult to see where the points are going to come from.
Inevitably, QPR gave away the opening goal at a set-piece - an infuriatingly easily conceded corner (if you can't defend set pieces, don't give them up so easily) - from an uncharacteristically well-taken goal from a former employee. Kaspars Gorkss was afforded the freedom of the six-yard box, after his defensive partner Sean Morrison was granted a free header, to volley past a flapping Julio Cesar for the lead.
It would be the last time Cesar touched the ball in anger. From then on, the chances were pretty much all for the home side. Esteban Granero went closest in the first half with a curling, dipping free-kick that England Under-21 ‘keeper Alex McCarthy performed miracles to push on to the bar.
Yet, for all the forward momentum, QPR looked a little insipid up front. With Bobby Zamora on the bench, Djibril Cisse was left to lead the line in front of Junior Hoilett. For the first hour, Cisse continued to look out of sorts, drifting away from the middle or dropping deep. But something finally clicked for him and his equaliser - a composed first touch and a smart finish - was a hint of the old warhorse.
The former France international's loss of form has coincided with an impending divorce. One can hope that the cloud is lifting.
Cisse was involved again with the golden chance to seal three points. Zamora, replacing an ineffectual Hoilett, smartly set Cisse off down the right-hand channel before Adel Taarabt was put clean through, but again his shot was cleverly saved by McCarthy.
With the seconds ticking away, Cisse unleashed a last-gasp drive from 35 yards that clipped the post, injuring the Reading goalkeeper in the process - a stark reminder of the effort the away side put into maintaining the stalemate.
While a point is not welcome, again the performance overall was a continuation of the improvement since the debacle at West Ham, which could still prove to be Sparky's downfall.
Follow Sean Smith on Twitter @seanshorn
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