Queens Park Rangers have suffered a major setback in avoiding relegation from the Premier League as they stuttered to a 0-0 draw against West Ham United at Loftus Road.
Charlie Austin had a great chance to give the Hoops the lead with a first-half spot-kick, awarded after a handball from James Collins, but it was saved by Hammers goalkeeper Adrian.
West Ham's Aaron Cresswell then had a 25-yard free-kick tipped over by QPR goalkeeper Robert Green, while Richard Dunne's headed goal was ruled out by referee Mike Jones.
The result, combined with Hull City's 2-0 win away at Crystal Palace and Burnley's 1-0 defeat against Leicester City, sees QPR four points from safety.
Find out how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of the Premier League clash between Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United at Loftus Road!
So we're at the tail end of the season and there isn't very much time left for QPR to survive. They're currently 19th in the table and two points from safety, and to make matters worse, the three teams above them all have a game in hand.
No such worries for West Ham, who have nothing left to play for this season, but their fans will surely be miffed at their team's recent form since the New Year, considering they were on course to challenge for a place in Europe in December when they sat fourth.
Team news filtering through...
QPR STARTING XI: Green, Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker, Hill, Barton, Henry, Sandro, Phillips, Austin, Zamora
WEST HAM STARTING XI: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Burke, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Nolan, Downing, Jarvis, Valencia
QPR SUBS: McCarthy, Isla, Young, Kranjcar, Taarabt, Wright-Phillips, Fer
WEST HAM SUBS: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Oxford, Poyet, Amalfitano, Nene, Cole
One change to QPR's starting XI as Richard Dunne returns from injury to slot into defence, taking the place of Mauricio Isla, while Leroy Fer is among the subs after returning from a medial collateral ligament injury.
Three tweaks to the Hammers lineup as Winston Reid and Alex Song drop out of the squad in place of 18-year-old Reece Burke and veteran Kevin Nolan, while Matt Jarvis comes in for Carlton Cole, who drops to the bench.
The hosts are returning to action since their agonising 1-0 defeat against Chelsea two weeks ago. That match was settled by Cesc Fabregas's 88th-minute strike, the Blues' first shot on target.
QPR boss Chris Ramsey has urged his players to play on the front foot from the off in what he predicts will be a "blood and thunder" clash. He told reporters: "I'm fully expecting a blood and thunder London derby. We will be positive and on the front foot and going for the win. We've conceded a lot of late goals this season and we're not happy about that. We really do need to stop conceding those late goals and keep concentrating right to the end. As long as we're above the line come the end of May, I'll be happy."
For West Ham, the remaining matches offer little else other than pride after an alarming dip in form in 2015. The pressure has grown on Sam Allardyce after just two wins in the calendar year have seen West Ham slip from fourth place at Christmas to 10th.
The Hammers boss told reporters ahead of the fixture: "We've made life far too difficult for ourselves, but we have to continue to make sure we do better than we are at the moment. We've got QPR and Burnley next who are fighting for their lives. We have to match that fight. The focus has to be that we have to try and finish the season on a high."
A special mention goes to QPR goalkeeper Robert Green, who makes his 100th appearance for the West London club today. He was also a key player for West Ham, having made 219 appearances for them between 2006 and 2012.
GREENO: Congratulations to @Robert1Green, who makes his 100th #QPR appearance today! #COYRS #Greeno pic.twitter.com/JduZ2Pihio
— QPR FC (@QPRFC) April 25, 2015
It's also gearing up to be a special day for 18-year-old Reece Burke, who makes his full Premier League debut today at Loftus Road. It's only his third appearance for the Hammers, having made his debut against Nottingham Forest in January 2014 before scoring against Sampdoria in pre-season and featuring against Sheffield United in the League Cup.
HEAD TO HEAD: The Hammers recorded a 2-0 victory in the match between the teams earlier this season as an own goal from Nedum Onuoha and a strike from Diafra Sakho were enough to hand Allardyce's men the three points.
In their last meeting at Loftus Road, West Ham took all three points from the fixture when Matt Jarvis and Ricardo Vaz Te got on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory.
Over the course of history, West Ham have edged the fixture by claiming 22 wins compared to QPR's 19, while 19 matches have ended in draws.
West Ham have lost just one of their last six Premier League games against QPR, and they won on their last visit to Loftus Road, but that is their only victory in their last nine games away to the Hoops in all competitions.
Now for some stats on the two concerning London derbies in general: QPR are winless in their last 13 Premier League capital clashes, with their last victory coming away to Chelsea in January 2013.
Meanwhile the Hammers are winless in their last six games against London sides, losing five of those matches. Their last victory against a side from the capital? QPR.
Staying on the subject of West Ham, it appears that they have unwittingly won themselves a famous new "fan": none other than Prime Minister David Cameron, who was believed to be an Aston Villa supporter just last week until "naming" the Hammers as his pride and joy. Cue the following tweet from the East London claret-and-blues (as opposed to the Birmingham claret-and-blues):
.@David_Cameron - don't forget to vote in another important election! Who is your Hammer of the Year, Prime Minister? pic.twitter.com/jrnJeFoQPJ
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) April 25, 2015
Well, less than 10 minutes to go until Queens Park Rangers take on Burnley. No sorry... Aston Villa. Hold on... (checks notes)... West Ham. Sorry about that folks, brain fade.
PREDICTION: Given that it's last-chance saloon for QPR, they will need no motivation against an opponent whose season is all but over with nothing else to play for except pride. So I reckon QPR will edge West Ham 2-1.
It's East meets West in the capital as the teams come out of the tunnel and into the London sunshine! The 50th league fixture between Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United is coming up!
KICKOFF: After a well-observed minute's silence on the 30th anniversary of the Bradford fire, Downing and Noble get the game underway.
CHANCE! And it's a swashbuckling start from the hosts as Adrian denies Sandro's well-drilled effort just 50 seconds in. Great play from Matty Phillips set that up.
CHANCE! West Ham then nearly score from a corner after Burke nods towards goal from Jarvis' set piece and it's cleared off the line by Onuoha!
West Ham force two corners in quick succession. In the aftermath of the set piece Downing is very nearly fouled in the area by Sandro who put in a clumsy tackle. QPR got away with that one there.
After a fast start from QPR, the visitors have settled down and created a few chances of their own. The hosts then manage to get a foot on the ball, but Onuoha's cross is straight into the hands of Adrian.
The Hammers are looking comfortable on the ball since those nervy early moments and it seems as if they are trying to get the ball up to Valencia at every opportunity.
CHANCE! An effort for the Hoops as Onuoha's throw-in is poorly cleared by Burke and falls to the feet of Barton, but the QPR skipper slices his effort wide of Adrian's goal.
Barton charges forward on from Austin's layoff, but Kouyate does well to muscle him off the ball before he can get into shooting range.
Following a bit of a lull, West Ham win another corner as Valencia beats Dunne and Caulker puts the ball behind. Jarvis takes, but Burke fouls Hill at the near post and the referee blows his whistle.
Following the lightning-quick start, the game's tempo has dropped somewhat. Neither side is able to maintain possession for long enough to muster an opportunity.
Onuoha concedes yet another corner, which Downing floats in, and the ball is headed out at the far post for a throw.
PENALTY! A handball in the box by Collins prompts the referee to give QPR a penalty! Austin steps up...
PENALTY SAVED! Adrian saves! The Spaniard dives to his right and blocks Austin's scuffed shot with his legs, before going on to thwart Zamora's rebound! QPR fans with their heads in their hands!
That's three straight Premier League penalties that Adrian has saved following stops from Harry Kane and David Nugent. At the other end, Valencia beats Dunne before dragging a right-footed shot wide.
QPR create another half-chance as Phillips's deep cross falls to Henry, but he cannot find Austin with his follow-up.
A poor free kick from Downing, normally reliable from set piece situations, as he hits the ball harmlessly into the gloves of Green.
CHANCE! Now QPR come forward as Phillips jinks inside from the right wing but drags his left-footed effort wide.
Nearly a chance for Valencia as Downing gets to the byline but can't keep his cross in play and it's a goal kick to QPR.
Noble slides in and catches Zamora late inside the West Ham half, but no booking. QPR then pile forward as Phillips fires a shot goalwards, it hits Zamora and the deflection takes the ball wide of the left-hand post.
Now it's the Hammers' turn to attack as Nolan finds a pocket of space on the edge of the box, but his strike is weak and Green makes an easy save.
A long ball forward is headed out to Jenkinson, who leans back and lashes a shot well over from 25 yards. Not long to go here at Loftus Road and it looks like both sides will be level at the break.
West Ham look quite happy to try and see this out until half time. QPR will look back on that penalty miss and feel that they really should be ahead.
One minute of stoppage time to be played...
HALF TIME: QUEENS PARK RANGERS 0-0 WEST HAM UNITED
It's goalless at the break between QPR and West Ham. The Hammers have been the better side here based on the balance of play, while Rangers never really got going but spurned a great chance to take the lead 22 minutes in when Austin's penalty - following Collins's handball in the box - was saved by Adrian.
Following a high-tempo start, the penalty miss took the wind out of QPR's sails and the game suffered thereafter, with little of note happening until the break.
RELEGATION FIGHT UPDATE: The relegation six-pointer between Burnley and Leicester City is goalless, while Hull City are also drawing 0-0 at Crystal Palace and Sunderland are playing out a 1-1 draw away at Stoke. So it's as it were position-wise in the table.
Very hard game to call, this one. You feel it'll take either a moment of magic or a moment of madness to decide this.
Here's the moment when Austin fluffed his penalty:
© Getty Images
KICKOFF: QPR get the second half underway. No changes for either side.
CHANCES! A bright start in tempo here as in the opening period of the first half, as Zamora's volley is saved by Adrian, while at the other end Downing cuts inside from the right flank but fires wide.
CHANCES! A bright start in tempo here as in the opening period of the first half, as Zamora's volley is saved by Adrian, while at the other end Downing cuts inside from the right flank but fires wide.
CHANCE! Sandro is lucky not to be booked after a late challenge on Valencia. Cresswell takes the ensuing free kick and Green beautifully tips the ball over the bar with a diving save.
CHANCES! West Ham fail to deal with a ball into the box, Jarvis clears straight to a QPR player and Sandro drives over from 25 yards. Moments later Zamora finds space to shoot after beating Burke to a long ball but it's well off target.
SUBSTITUTION: The Hammers make their - and the game's - first change as Matt Jarvis comes off in place of Carlton Cole.
A scare for QPR as Downing is played through by Nolan and the veteran looks favourite to reach it, but Green is swiftly out and slides to clear 35 yards from goal.
UPDATE: Leicester have taken the lead against Burnley moments after the Clarets missed a penalty, while Hull are also ahead against Crystal Palace.
West Ham in the ascendency as Downing swings in a cross and Kouyate rises high, but can't get enough on the header to trouble Green as Barton does well to apply pressure.
SUBSTITUTION: Yoon-suk Young comes on for QPR as defender Clint Hill makes way.
SUBSTITUTION: Leroy Fer replaces Bobby Zamora for his first appearance since his injury against Sunderland.
Noble is brought down about four yards outside the box, the Hammers veteran opting to take the free kick. He tries to scoop over the wall for Nolan, but gets it all wrong and the pass is too strong.
Fer cuts inside but his effort is deflected wide for a corner. The set piece is then wasted and the Hammers break.
UPDATE: QPR really need to get a goal in this game because, as things stand, they are four points from safety. Leicester and Hull both winning, while Sunderland slip into the drop zone. Newcastle could also be dragged into it as they are losing 2-1 against Swansea, while Aston Villa are in action at 5:30pm away at Manchester City.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Dunne bundles the ball home from close range, but the whistle had already gone for Caulker's foul on Adrian.
The home fans are unhappy, but the referee appears to have got that call right. That could have changed the complexion of the relegation fight once again.
BOOKING: Austin, who earlier saw his penalty saved, is caught offside, and frustration gets the better of him as he slams the ball down, earning himself a booking for his troubles.
CHANCE! And it's a gaffe from the referee as Barton slips and knocks the ball out for what should be a goal kick, but a corner is given instead. From the set piece, Dunne heads the corner straight into Adrian's gloves.
QPR continue to push forward as Phillips's curling free kick finds the head of Fer, but the resulting effort is high and wide.
CHANCE! A big chance for Kouyate just there to open the scoring as he collects Valencia's cutback, but the Senegalese midfielder blasts over from close range. That would have virtually killed off QPR's survival hopes. Very poor from Kouyate there.
CHANCE! Barton's free kick falls to Henry in the box, but his low drive from range is well beaten away by Adrian.
CHANCE! West Ham are under siege here as Onuoha drills the ball across the face of goal, but the visitors clear as nobody is there to tap home! Not long now for QPR to try and get a winner in a bid to stay in touch with the sides just above them!
CHANCE! Adrian saves West Ham yet again as Phillips sends a rasping shot towards the top corner which the keeper tips wide!
Into three minutes of added time here at Loftus Road as QPR's first corner is deflected wide, while Fer cannot control the second one.
A bit of a scuffle between Barton and Cresswell after the left-back held off the midfielder. Not what QPR need.
FULL TIME: QUEENS PARK RANGERS 0-0 WEST HAM UNITED
It finishes all square between QPR and West Ham, a goalless draw which won't be of much concern to Allardyce's charges, but in wake of the other Premier League games involving teams around the drop zone, is pretty bad news for the Hoops.
QPR won't know how costly Charlie Austin's penalty miss will prove until the end of the season, but as things stand, Ramsey's boys are four points from safety.
Well folks, it's been a pleasure taking you through this game, but don't go anywhere because Sports Mole will bring you all the reaction, analysis and player ratings from Loftus Road, not to mention all the latest news on what has proved to be a crazy day in the Premier League and the Football League!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
