Nothing in this bleak encounter suggested these teams are going to soar clear of danger any time soon. At least Crystal Palace can take satisfaction from a valuable away point in their first match since the dismissal of Neil Warnock, though given how beatable their hosts looked, the south Londoners’ overriding sentiment may be regret at not enhancing a form record that now reads one win in 13 Premier League matches.

The best thing caretaker manager Keith Millen did was make a single alteration to the line-up that started Warnock’s last match in charge, with Frazier Campbell replaced by Wilfried Zaha. A paucity of goals was one of the main problems during Warnock’s short reign and Millen sought to remedy that by dispensing with specialist strikers and putting his trust in Zaha to provide penetration through the middle behind a support cast of Jason Puncheon, James McArthur and Yannick Bolasie.

The ploy did not work, as Zaha fluffed a couple of clear chances in the first-half before being substituted mid-way through the second. In the 22nd minute he bungled his attempt to score after Puncheon’s delicate shot from the edge of the area rebounded off the post. He then dragged a shot wide from 15 yards after a long goalkick found its way through to him.

Despite looking toothless, Palace were the more inventive and dynamic of the two teams. While Palace at least showed they had the ability to generate chances in the first half, Rangers displayed a grim lack of creativity, hoofing long balls towards Bobby Zamora.

Goal tally

Charlie Austin had to scavenge for any chance to add to his impressive goal tally, though he did produce the first shot on target in the 15th minute when he sent a stinging half-volley goalward from the corner of the box. Julián Speroni saved comfortably.

QPR could hardly blame fatigue for their stodginess, as Harry Redknapp made six changes to the side that had come close to scrounging their first away point of the season against Arsenal on St Stephen’s Day.

Their deplorable results on the road so far place them under added pressure at home, so Redknapp must have hoped for a similar sort of revival to the one Rangers mustered when coming from two goals down to beat West Bromwich Albion. It wasn’t to be. Guardian