QPR and Millwall take a point each after derby draw

Posted Saturday, September 21, 2024 by PA

QPR and Millwall drew 1-1 in an uninspiring London derby at Loftus Road.

Rangers target man Michael Frey struck five minutes before half-time to cancel out Duncan Watmore’s goal and both teams laboured after the break.

Watmore put the visitors ahead on 34 minutes with his fifth goal of the season.

Summer signing Macaulay Langstaff, making his first Championship start for Millwall, sent the ball in from the right and George Honeyman cleverly let it run to Watmore, who slotted past keeper Paul Nardi.

Millwall had looked dangerous early on, with Romain Esse seeing a strike saved at the near post by Nardi, while Langstaff fired into the side netting before Watmore’s well-taken opener.

Rangers had offered little and were under pressure before hitting back with a counter-attack.

Karamoko Dembele darted forward and steered the ball through to Frey, who drifted away from defender Jake Cooper and netted his third goal in his past four league appearances.

The equaliser came against the run of play and Millwall continued to the threaten after the interval, with George Saville firing over from a free-kick, Honeyman shooting wide and Esse bringing a save from Nardi with a low strike.

QPR almost went ahead when Jimmy Dunne’s far-post header from Kenneth Paal’s left-wing cross was cleared off the line by Japhet Tanganga.

Honeyman then missed a glorious chance for Millwall when he inexplicably failed to connect with Esse’s low cross.

Had Honeyman been more alert, his side would probably have left west London with all three points.

Boss Neil Harris will be hoping that striker Mihailo Ivanovic is able to provide Millwall with more firepower this season – and the Serbian was brought on with 15 minutes remaining for his debut following his summer move.

He looked sharp and Nardi needed to palm away a cross from Femi Azeez to prevent it reaching Ivanovic at the far post.

And in stoppage time, Nardi saved from Azeez at point-blank range to deny Millwall a late winner.

The result leaves QPR still waiting for their first home win of the season. Their home results were poor during the previous two seasons and manager Marti Cifuentes is looking to address the problem this term – but the early signs have not been good.