Queens Park Rangers fought back twice on Saturday to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Stoke City in the Premier League.
Mame Biram Diouf headed the visitors in front on 10 minutes before a Charlie Adam own goal levelled the match at half time.
Peter Crouch struck to give Stoke the lead once more at the start of the second half, but a superb free kick from Niko Kranjcar two minutes from time earned QPR a share of the spoils.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the action unfolded at Loftus Road.
Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of Stoke's trip to QPR in the Premier League. Both teams start the day in need of the points following defeats last time out. We should have team news for you shortly.
QPR: Green; Isla, Caulker, Ferdinand, Traore; Mutch, Barton, Fer; Kranjcar; Vargas, Austin
QPR SUBS: McCarthy, Phillips, Onuoha, Henry, Dunne, Hoilett, Zamora
Following on from last weekend's 4-0 thumping at Manchester United, QPR boss Harry Redknapp has made four changes to his starting lineup. Armand Traore, Joey Barton, Jordon Mutch and Eduardo Vargas all come in, while Clint Hill, Matt Phillips and Junior Hoilett miss out. Sandro is currently sidelined with an injury that he picked up at Old Trafford.
STOKE: Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; Whelan, Nzonzi; Diouf, Adam, Moses; Crouch
STOKE SUBS: Sorensen, Huth, Muniesa, Arnautovic, Sidwell, Assaidi, Bojan
Meanwhile, Stoke manager Mark Hughes has made two changes after seeing his side slump to a 1-0 defeat at home to Leicester City last weekend. Mame Biram Diouf and Charlie Adam are back in the starting XI for the Potters, with Bojan and Jonathan Walters making way.
It's been a difficult start to the season for QPR, who currently sit in 16th place in the table with three points from four matches. The R's have lost three of those games, but they will take some comfort in the fact that their only win so far this term came at home - a 1-0 victory over Sunderland.
While QPR have had a tough opening to the season, Stoke have fared little better. Mark Hughes's side are only a couple of places above their opponents in the standings having taken four points from four matches. The Potters have lost both games that they've played at home this season, but they've found more joy on the road with a win and a draw. Can they build on their decent away form even more this afternoon?
QPR boss Harry Redknapp: "I hope [Mark Hughes] gets a good reception. He's a top manager. They did okay in his first year here then they had a difficult second season, we've all had that. He's doing an excellent job at Stoke, the same as he has done at most clubs he has been at.
"Stoke are a strong side. They went to Manchester City and won, not many teams will do that. I saw them at Leicester and I thought they played ever so well. It will be a tough game but I think we have a chance against anybody at home."
Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "We did have problems last year with a lack of goals that hindered us at certain points but we came through at the back end. We've got enough quality and we've added players who will give us different options."
HEAD TO HEAD: It's QPR who have the better record when it comes to past meetings between these teams, winning 16 games compared to 10 for Stoke. Meanwhile, there have been six draws.
Despite QPR having the better overall record, it's been evenly-matched between the sides in recent years. Both the R's and Stoke have three wins each from the last six matches that the teams have played. Stoke won both encounters when they lats met during the 2012-13 campaign, including a 2-0 victory at Loftus Road.
If you have a spare couple of minutes before kickoff, why not have a look at our video preview for today's match?
You have to say that there could well be one or two alarm bells ringing should QPR lose this afternoon. They've already got a win under their belts this season, but a fourth defeat out of five would be reason to worry for the London club. On the other hand, a win would give a huge boost to everyone at Loftus Road, lifting the team into the top half of the table for now.
Stoke are in a similar situation to QPR in that another defeat today would put some mild pressure on the team, but a victory is sure to inject some optimism into the club. Where Stoke may have the upper hand this afternoon is in their decent away form so far this season. The Potters seem to be more comfortable on the road.
Around 10 minutes to go until kickoff, and Loftus Road is filling up nicely. They certainly know how to get behind their team here. However, an early goal or some early pressure from the visitors could change the whole mood inside the stadium.
Not long to go now as the two sets of players start to emerge in the tunnel. There are plenty of intense faces among the sides. Both teams have had difficult starts to the season, and a win today would certainly ease their respective worries.
KICKOFF! The teams are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be QPR to get us underway at Loftus Road. It might be early in the season, but there's already plenty riding on this match. Here we go!
It's been a decent start to the game, with both teams showing plenty of energy during the opening stages. It's particularly busy in and around the midfield area. QPR create the first chance of the afternoon as the ball is fed through to Vargas, but the Chilean's effort on the angle is well held by Begovic.
We've already seen a few robust challenges in the first minutes of this match as both teams jostle for possession. It's still extremely congested in midfield, with the two sides scrapping ferociously. It would not be a surprise if the silky football is largely bypassed today.
QPR look to be in control with some good passing before Crouch gets the ball and makes a darting run down the right wing. The striker crosses towards Adam, but the former England international hits it out of play. That should provide the hosts with a bit of a warning because that came out of nothing.
GOAL! QPR 0-1 STOKE (DIOUF)
Stoke lead as Mame Biram Diouf pops up in the box to head the visitors in front! Moses received the ball out on the left before crossing towards Crouch, who rose above Ferdinand to head down to Diouf. The striker then had the simple task of nodding in from two yards.
That goal is sure to have calmed Stoke down while having the reverse effect on the hosts. QPR captain Joey Barton believes that Crouch was climbing all over Ferdinand in the build-up to the goal and is continually chipping away at referee Martin Atkinson about it.
QPR have responded well to going behind as Barton floats a free kick into the box. The ball eventually drops to Traore, but the full-back can only smash his effort high over the crossbar.
QPR are doing most of the pressing at the moment, though Stoke are looking dangerous on the break. The hosts are enjoying a good spell. One opportunity sees Austin turn on the edge of the box, only to flash his effort wide of the post.
CHANCE! As mentioned, Stoke are looking threatening on the break, and they nearly double their lead with such an attack. The visitors break with Adam, who lays the ball off to Diouf on the edge of the box. However, the forward takes one too many touches and QPR clear. That was good defending from the hosts, but Stoke probably should have done better there.
A problem for QPR at the minute is that they're not playing with any width. The hosts are trying to go through Stoke, who are happy to sit on the edge of their own box and soak up any pressure. Harry Redknapp's side will have to adjust their tactics if they want to damage their opponents.
To be fair, QPR are having a go. They looked completely uninspired at Old Trafford last weekend, but they're showing plenty more enthusiasm, energy and dynamism this afternoon. They're just lacking that bit of quality in the final third. The hosts win a corner that gets played short, but they make a hash of it before Barton fouls Pieters.
CHANCE! Stoke put together another dangerous break as Crouch comes within inches of making it 2-0. Moses makes a good run down the left before finding Crouch on the edge of the QPR box. The striker gets the ball caught under his feet, though he manages to get a shot away that goes narrowly wide of the post.
SUBSTITUTION: This is bad news for QPR as Barton is forced to come off with what looks like a hamstring injury. Matt Phillips is on in place of the R's skipper. Meanwhile, Kranjcar nearly finds the top corner with an speculative effort from 30 yards.
Phillips gets involved in the action instantly, winning a free kick for his side on the right flank. Kranjcar whips it in to the penalty area, but a Stoke defender is there to head it away. The visitors have been very solid at the back so far this afternoon. QPR will need something special to get past them.
His team might be 1-0 down, but Harry Redknapp is likely to be pleased with the kind of effort that they've put in since going behind. The guile and craft has not always been there in attack, but the R's have done a good job in putting pressure on the away side.
GOAL! QPR 1-1 STOKE (CAULKER)
It's been coming! QPR get their equaliser just three minutes before half time through Steven Caulker! The defender got himself away from Shawcross at a corner before heading in past Begovic. The ball took a few deflections on its way through, so it might go down as an own goal, but the hosts will not care one bit.
Just the one minute of added time at the end of the half...
HALF TIME: QPR 1-1 STOKE
Referee Martin Atkinson blows his whistle to bring an end to a curious 45 minutes at Loftus Road. Mame Biram Diouf gave Stoke the lead on 10 minutes before QPR got a deserved equaliser late in the half. Steven Caulker reeled away as if the goal was his, but it will probably go down as a Charlie Adam own goal after the midfielder sliced the ball into his own net.
QPR's equaliser was certainly a deserved one. The home side have done most of the pressing so far, although they have often lacked ideas in attack. Meanwhile, Stoke have been happy to sit back, absorb the pressure and hit their opponents on the break.
It will be interesting to see if Stoke manager Mark Hughes changes his side's tactics at the break. Stoke have defended well so far, but all it needs is for QPR to get their act together up front and the visitors could be in trouble.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp may well be stressing to his players the importance of stifling Stoke on the counter-attack. The visitors could have been 2-0 or 3-0 up before the hosts levelled the match, only for some poor finishing to keep the score at 1-0. Meanwhile, a bit more creativity in attack wouldn't go amiss for the hosts.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out and it will be Stoke to kick us off for the second half. No changes from either manager at the break.
It's been a positive start to the second half for Stoke, who are looking the more dangerous during these early stages. However, QPR create the first proper chance as Phillips's cross from the right narrowly misses Austin in the middle of the penalty area.
SUBSTITUTION: Yet more injury woe for QPR now as Jordon Mutch is forced off with a similar-looking hamstring problem to the one that Barton had. Karl Henry is on in Mutch's place.
GOAL! QPR 1-2 STOKE (CROUCH)
Stoke take the lead once again thanks to a superb finish from Peter Crouch! Isla was dispossesed by Moses down on the left touchline before the winger surged towards goal. Moses then picked out Crouch around the edge of the penalty area, and the striker made no mistake in hitting a first-time shot past Green. Clinical stuff.
CHANCE! Another mistake from Isla almost gifts Stoke a third goal. The defender prods the ball to Pieters inside the box, but the defender can only hit a tame shot straight at Green. The visitors go on the attack again soon after before N'Zonzi smashes a ferocious effort just wide.
Austin is livid for QPR as his effort looks to be deflected over for a corner, but referee Martin Atkinson gives a goal kick. Frustrations are starting to emerge among the home players and fans. That'll suit Stoke perfectly.
CHANCE! QPR come close to grabbing another equaliser as Kranjcar's shot from the edge of the area goes wide of the post by a matter of inches. The Croatian has been impressive for the hosts this afternoon, drifting behind the strikers and giving Stoke plenty to think about.
Stoke are doing their best to slow the pace of the game down at the moment as QPR go in search of a second goal. The Potters are trying to pass the ball around casually in midfield, but the hosts are doing a good job in chasing down and winning it back. A third goal for Stoke would surely kill the game off, though they risk plenty if they opt to sit back and invite QPR onto them.
QPR are still being let down by that lack of quality in the final third. They've shown plenty of intent up front this afternoon, only for some questionable decision-making to hamper their efforts. Phillips, who has been lively down the right, tries his luck from 20 yards but he shoots wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Stoke make their first change of the afternoon as Steve Sidwell replaces Charlie Adam. Meanwhile, QPR's final change of the match sees Bobby Zamora enter the action in place of Eduardo Vargas.
YELLOW CARD! Traore of QPR goes into the book after hacking down Diouf down the right wing. The resulting free kick is whipped into the heart of the home side's box, but Fer is there to head away.
It's difficult to see where a QPR equaliser will come from at the moment. They've lost some of their momentum, while Stoke are looking more comfortable as we head towards the final 10 minutes of the match. Kranjcar's effort from the edge of the area goes out for a corner, which the home side fail to make anything of.
SUBSTITUTION: Another swap for Stoke now as Marko Arnautovic replaces Victor Moses, who has been impressive for the visitors this afternoon. The Nigerian has been a constant threat in attacking, running tirelessly for his side.
YELLOW CARD! A silly booking for Diouf to pick up there as he is penalised for a foul on Fer. The Stoke striker was late with his challenge on the Dutchman, resulting in a yellow card.
YELLOW CARD! Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross gets a deserved booking there for a forceful, reckless tackle on Kranjcar. Fer also gets himself a caution for getting involved with Shawcross off the ball. It all flared up there for a moment.
Time is running out for QPR to get something from this game. They're seeing a lot of the ball during these final minutes, but Stoke are continuing to defend solidly and keep the hosts out. Steve Sidwell is the latest player to go into the book for a foul on Kranjcar.
GOAL! QPR 2-2 STOKE (KRANJCAR)
And from the resulting free kick QPR get themselves level! What a hit by Niko Kranjcar! The Croatian dusted himself off to curl the ball over the Stoke wall and into the top corner from the edge of the box, giving Begovic absolutely no chance! Just the tonic for the hosts!
There will be FOUR MINUTES of added time. Are we going to see a winner?
Kranjcar tries to conjure up some more magic as he twists and turns before seeing his shot saved by Begovic. It's QPR who are doing all of the attacking as we edge closer to the final whistle.
FULL TIME: QPR 2-2 STOKE
There goes the full-time whistle, bringing the curtain down on an entertaining 90 minutes at Loftus Road where it's ended 2-2 between QPR and Stoke. The visitors looked on course to get the three points before Niko Kranjcar's fabulous free kick two minutes from time earned the home side a decent point.
That's all from our live text coverage of today's match, but don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from both camps right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!
