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<H1>Rangers survive Albion avalanche to take a point</H1><H5 class=linenew>nwl.sport@archant.co.uk
<SPAN class=smd>01 November 2006</SPAN> </H5><TABLE class=fImgTab cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=100 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=text>Marc Nygaard headed QPR's third goal </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><H5>THERE can't be many teams who have scored 10 goals in five matches - and still failed to win any of them.
But QPR find themselves in exactly that situation after Tuesday night's thrilling 3-3 draw at West Brom, a game that underlined both their battling qualities and defensive weaknesses yet again.
A point away to promotion-chasing Albion ranks as an excellent result, yet Rangers fans will be wondering how much more their side could achieve if they could only stamp out the habit of conceding early goals.
"It's easy to fall back into old habits and I don't want that," admitted Rs boss John Gregory. "There's still a lot of work to do and that's my job.
"We gave the ball away too easily under pressure and conceded poor goals - I wouldn't have minded if they [West Brom] had created them."
Rangers' porous defence have conceded within the first 15 minutes in all but the first of their seven games under Gregory's guidance - and the pattern continued at The Hawthorns.
Simon Royce, who retained his place ahead of Paul Jones, was hopelessly exposed as he saved a Jason Koumas drive and, with no-one rushing to his aid, the keeper was unable to prevent Nathan Ellington's follow-up from crossing the line.
And Royce produced saves to deny Steve Watson and Zoltan Gera before Diomansy Kamara doubled the Baggies' lead five minutes before half-time.
The Senegalese international's task was made easier when Damion Stewart slipped, allowing him to lift the ball over him and blast a first-time finish past Royce.
Stewart made amends in first-half injury time, though, pouncing on Lee Cook's cross from the right to tuck away his second goal of the season.
And Rangers repeated their recent recovery at Hillsborough when Kevin Gallen made it 2-2 just three minutes into the second half, steering Dexter Blackstock's cross past Pascal Zuberbuhler.
Inevitably, though, the QPR defence were found wanting again five minutes later as a feeble offside trap failed and left Kamara with a clear run to beat Royce and restore Albion's advantage.
Again, West Brom piled pressure on the visitors, but were unable to kill the contest - and Marc Nygaard, who had replaced Blackstock just after the hour, took advantage.
Cook was again the provider, whipping a cross into the penalty area with seven minutes remaining, and Nygaard raced in ahead of Zuberbuhler to nod the equaliser.
QPR: Royce; Mancienne, Rehman, Stewart, Bignot; Ainsworth, Lomas, Smith, COOK*; Blackstock (Nygaard 63), Gallen. Subs not used: Jones, Milanese, Ward, Rowlands.
Att: 17,417</H5>
<SPAN class=smd>01 November 2006</SPAN> </H5><TABLE class=fImgTab cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=100 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=text>Marc Nygaard headed QPR's third goal </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><H5>THERE can't be many teams who have scored 10 goals in five matches - and still failed to win any of them.But QPR find themselves in exactly that situation after Tuesday night's thrilling 3-3 draw at West Brom, a game that underlined both their battling qualities and defensive weaknesses yet again.
A point away to promotion-chasing Albion ranks as an excellent result, yet Rangers fans will be wondering how much more their side could achieve if they could only stamp out the habit of conceding early goals.
"It's easy to fall back into old habits and I don't want that," admitted Rs boss John Gregory. "There's still a lot of work to do and that's my job.
"We gave the ball away too easily under pressure and conceded poor goals - I wouldn't have minded if they [West Brom] had created them."
Rangers' porous defence have conceded within the first 15 minutes in all but the first of their seven games under Gregory's guidance - and the pattern continued at The Hawthorns.
Simon Royce, who retained his place ahead of Paul Jones, was hopelessly exposed as he saved a Jason Koumas drive and, with no-one rushing to his aid, the keeper was unable to prevent Nathan Ellington's follow-up from crossing the line.
And Royce produced saves to deny Steve Watson and Zoltan Gera before Diomansy Kamara doubled the Baggies' lead five minutes before half-time.
The Senegalese international's task was made easier when Damion Stewart slipped, allowing him to lift the ball over him and blast a first-time finish past Royce.
Stewart made amends in first-half injury time, though, pouncing on Lee Cook's cross from the right to tuck away his second goal of the season.
And Rangers repeated their recent recovery at Hillsborough when Kevin Gallen made it 2-2 just three minutes into the second half, steering Dexter Blackstock's cross past Pascal Zuberbuhler.
Inevitably, though, the QPR defence were found wanting again five minutes later as a feeble offside trap failed and left Kamara with a clear run to beat Royce and restore Albion's advantage.
Again, West Brom piled pressure on the visitors, but were unable to kill the contest - and Marc Nygaard, who had replaced Blackstock just after the hour, took advantage.
Cook was again the provider, whipping a cross into the penalty area with seven minutes remaining, and Nygaard raced in ahead of Zuberbuhler to nod the equaliser.
QPR: Royce; Mancienne, Rehman, Stewart, Bignot; Ainsworth, Lomas, Smith, COOK*; Blackstock (Nygaard 63), Gallen. Subs not used: Jones, Milanese, Ward, Rowlands.
Att: 17,417</H5>
