Are QPR the Chelsea of the Championship? Begovic mistake spoils the night for Hoops against Swansea

By Alessandro Schiavone at Loftus Road

QPR 1-1 Swansea (Ginnell 7', Dykes 92')

QPR are the Chelsea of the Championship. That is a fact now. A quick glance at the table reveals that the Hoops are the lowest-ranked London side in the second-tier. Equally, the Blues are preceded by Tottenham, Arsenal, West Ham, Palace, Fulham and Brentford in the Prem at the minute.

And in similar fashion to their neighbours down the road, they play really well. Even exceptionally well at times. They create a host of chances, move the ball around effortlessly, have a technical and pyschological edge on the opposition... but just don't know how to score.

Ironically, QPR were forced into chasing the game from the 7th minute onwards as ex-Chelsea stopper Asmir Begovic spilled a harmless cross which ricocheted off Jamal Lowe before bundling in.

QPR huffed and puffed for 85 minutes. And two minutes into stoppage-time Ilias Chair's pinpoint delivery found the head of Lyndon Dykes who deservedly restored a stalemate for the battling Hoops.

Sixth from bottom and in peril, yet the manner in which QPR responded to the early setback is cause for optimism. And they could have found the equaliser long before 9.38pm as a barrage of good chances went begging. First Kenneth Paal dragged a shot wide, then Sinclair Armstrong thought he was in an offside position, firing over.

Right winger Paul Smyth also missed the target.

If Chair had been at his best, QPR would have won the game hands down. But he wasn't and that's why they only drew.

The Hoops' desire and fighting spirit couldn't be faulted.

But neither do Chelsea's. Yet either side just doesn't collect enough points right now to make a case for a London revival.

Teams: QPR 1Begovic

• 2KakayBooked at 67mins

• 5S Cook

• 15Fox

• 11SmythSubstituted forKolliat 87'minutes

• 17Dozzell

• 8Field

• 22Paal

• 7WillockSubstituted forKelmanat 73'minutes

• 30ArmstrongSubstituted forDykesat 61'minutes

• 10Chair

Substitutes

• 6Clarke-Salter

• 9Dykes

• 19Dixon-Bonner

• 21Larkeche

• 23Kelman

• 24Duke-McKenna

• 32Walsh

• 37Adomah

• 38Kolli

Swansea City:

• 22Rushworth

• 5Cabango

• 23WoodBooked at 5mins

• 33Humphreys

• 8Grimes

• 2KeySubstituted forTymonat 32'minutes

• 4Fulton

• 10LoweSubstituted forKukharevychat 73'minutes

• 11GinnellySubstituted forCooperat 73'minutesBooked at 90mins

• 20CullenSubstituted forYatesat 58'minutes

• 12Paterson

Substitutes

• 1Fisher

• 3Pedersen

• 6Darling

• 9Yates

• 14Tymon

• 18Patino

• 19Kukharevych

• 30Ashby

• 31Cooper

Referee:: Andrew Kitchen