Luton 1 QPR 1 – Ball’s goal ensures Hatters’ survival hopes still in the balance

BY NICK KITUNO

Queens Park Rangers dealt a blow to Luton Town’s hopes of Championship survival as they came back from a goal down to earn a draw.

James Collins’ penalty gave them yet another early mountain to climb but Dom Ball’s first goal for the club handed the R’s a point at Kenilworth Road.

The draw means QPR have picked up just four points from a possible 21 as they now take on promotion-chasing Millwall and West Bromwich Albion in their final two games. Luton, meanwhile, remain a point adrift from safety in 23rd.

Rangers suffered an early setback when Angel Rangel was forced off due to injury after just 11 minutes. Conor Masterson came on in his place.

Following some frantic opening exchanges, Luton were given a breakthrough when Ryan Manning clipped James Bree inside the box. Collins stepped up to convert after 19 minutes.

They could have grabbed a quickfire second, when Elliot Lee directed the goalscorer’s driven cross wide of the post, but QPR nearly answered back as they went close through Ebere Eze and Bright Osayi-Samuel.

The R’s began the second half strongly and pulled level when Osayi-Samuel’s cutback cross from the byline teed up Ball for the finish.

Both sides threatened to nick a winner, with Luton coming close from two injury-time set-pieces, but neither found a way through again as they shared a point each.