Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 2, Barnsley 2.
Charlie Austin grabbed an added-time goal as unbeaten QPR came from 2-0 down to rescue a point against Barnsley at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
The striker beat keeper Brad Collins from Yoann Barbet's cross after Ilias Chair had brought Rangers back into the game with an individual effort.
Having done the double in the previous two seasons, the Yorkshire side had gone ahead early as Dominik Frieser beat the offside trap and drilled the ball past Seny Dieng.
Captain Cauley Woodrow then scored his 50th goal for the club, but they were pushed back as Rangers dominated after the break and Austin's goal earned a deserved draw.
Rangers boss Mark Warburton made four changes for the game, three of them enforced, with Lee Wallace and Lyndon Dykes injured and Moses Odubajo suspended following his red card against Middlesbrough.
Austin was restored in attack, having scored seven times in previous matches against Barnsley - his best tally against any club - but he was starved of worthwhile service in the first half when the home side failed to produce a meaningful effort on target
Barnsley repeated the high-press tactic which helped carry them to the play-offs last term, but their slick first-time passing following Frieser's opener was also a headache for Rangers, who fell further behind when Callum Styles' cut-back presented Woodrow with a chance he could not miss.
So dissatisfied was Warburton with what he was seeing that he took George Thomas and Andre Dozzell off after 35 minutes and had to make another change at the interval with Jimmy Dunne replacing Jordy de Wijs in defence.
Dunne went close when he rose highest from a corner and headed just wide of the post and another dead-ball delivery saw Austin force a fine reaction save from Brad Collins.
Rangers kept pressing forward and Chair turned Toby Sibbick as he cut in from the left before firing into the roof of the net to give them renewed hope.
Woodrow missed a chance to settle it, shooting wide after being picked out by a long ball, and Barnsley's hopes of a first away league victory under Markus Schopp were dashed as Austin found space in the box to beat Collins for the equaliser - the 153rd league goal of his career.
QPR manager Mark Warburton on his first-half substitutions:
"We were two down and just felt we had to change it quickly. It's no reflection on Andre or George - they've been excellent since the first day of pre-season.
"But we had to change it and they were the two who suffered. It could have been a number of people.
"Around the pitch in the second half we were much better. We were good and created chances.
"We were on the front foot, took care of the ball and in the end could maybe have won the game."
Barnsley captain Cauley Woodrow told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"First half, we could have been 3-0, 4-0 up, but if you don't take your chances, the longer it goes on, the tougher it gets.
"They were flying before this game and I think we gave a good performance and were all over them at times. It's frustrating not to come out with a win.
"If you look at our performance, it was a progression. It's a journey we're on at the moment, playing a totally new style under the new manager and the longer the season goes on, the better we're going to get."
Line-ups
QPR
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Dieng
- 4Dickie
- 5de WijsSubstituted forDunneat 45'minutes
- 6BarbetBooked at 56mins
- 14ThomasSubstituted forBallat 36'minutes
- 7Johansen
- 17DozzellSubstituted forAdomahat 36'minutes
- 2Kakay
- 21Willock
- 10ChairBooked at 78mins
- 11Austin
Substitutes
- 12Ball
- 13Archer
- 18Kelman
- 20Dunne
- 34Duke-McKenna
- 37Adomah
Barnsley
Formation 3-4-3
- 40Collins
- 20Sibbick
- 30Helik
- 5KitchingBooked at 70mins
- 7Brittain
- 21PalmerSubstituted forMoonat 60'minutes
- 10BensonBooked at 49minsSubstituted forHalmeat 81'minutes
- 4StylesBooked at 56mins
- 28Frieser
- 9Woodrow
- 22OduorSubstituted forColeat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Walton
- 3Williams
- 15Moon
- 24Halme
- 29Adeboyejo
- 44Cole
- 46Thompson
- Referee:
- Gavin Ward
- Attendance:
- 11,882
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home66%
- Away34%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home3
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 2, Barnsley 2.
Post update
Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Osman Kakay.
Post update
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Liam Kitching.
Goal!
Goal! Queens Park Rangers 2, Barnsley 2. Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Yoann Barbet.
Post update
Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Chris Willock tries a through ball, but Charlie Austin is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Osman Kakay (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ilias Chair.
Post update
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Jasper Moon.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Chris Willock (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Yoann Barbet.
Post update
Offside, Barnsley. Devante Cole tries a through ball, but Cauley Woodrow is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Robert Dickie (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Attempt blocked. Yoann Barbet (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Chris Willock (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Toby Sibbick (Barnsley).
Post update
Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Chris Willock tries a through ball, but Albert Adomah is caught offside.
Post update
Robert Dickie (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Devante Cole (Barnsley).
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Attempt missed. Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Bradley Collins.
Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Aapo Halme replaces Josh Benson.
Post update
Offside, Barnsley. Josh Benson tries a through ball, but Liam Kitching is caught offside.
Comments
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Looks like some great EPL derby of West London are coming, Uxbridge Road vs M4 next season ?
Barnsley were excellent as usual
(Surprised we got a draw)