Champions Manchester City fell eight points behind league leaders Chelsea after drawing at Queens Park Rangers.
Rangers’ Charlie Austin had an early effort ruled out as City keeper Joe Hart’s two-touch free-kick in the build-up did not leave the penalty box.
Moments later, Austin beat Hart with a low effort but Sergio Aguero finished smartly to level before the break.
Austin’s cross forced Martin Demichelis into an own goal, but Aguero responded by rounding Rob Green to level.
The Argentine now has 12 goals in as many Premier League matches but his brilliance will only serve as mild consolation for City fans who have seen their side lose again in Europe and draw with struggling QPR less than a week after success in the Manchester derby.
Defeat to CSKA Moscow on Wednesday prompted widespread criticism of the Premier League champions and they now trail league leaders Chelsea – winners earlier in the day at Liverpool – by eight points, remaining third.
A crumb of comfort may exist in the fact City had two points fewer at the same stage last season, but the crisis in confidence raised by boss Manuel Pellegrini in midweek seemed prevalent at Loftus Road.
Only Les Ferdinand with 13 in 1995 has scored more goals in the opening 11 matchdays of a Premier League season than Sergio Aguero who has 12
Without injured captain Vincent Kompany, City were pressured early on by Harry Redknapp’s side, who move off the bottom, leapfroggingBurnley who beat Hull earlier.
Austin, who now has four goals in his last three Premier League games, was at the centre of their good work and he headed past Hart but saw his effort ruled out for offside.
When the City keeper played the resulting free-kick straight to the R’s talisman, he smashed into the net but referee Mike Dean again cut celebrations short after spotting Hart had touched the ball twice, with his first touch, vitally, not leaving the area.
Fifa’s Laws of the Game document for 2014-15 outlines why Charlie Austin’s strike was ruled out
Austin persisted and buried Eduardo Vargas’s pass to open the scoring, but Aguero was unshaken by the game’s frenetic nature.
He collected Eliaquim Mangala’s long ball brilliantly to find space and clip a leveller through the body of Rob Green.
QPR have just two wins this season but showed more enthusiasm in the second period as Leroy Fer struck wide before Austin’s cross was powered in by Demichelis under pressure from Bobby Zamora.
QPR 2-2 Man City: We don’t think about Chelsea – Pellegrini
A City response arrived as Aguero’s shot was cleared off the line by Richard Dunne and Stephen Caulker did the same to deny James Milner before QPR’s resilience was broken by the exceptional Aguero.
The league’s top scorer collected another long pass – this time from Yaya Toure – to evade the QPR keeper again, wrong-foot back-tracking home defenders and add a measured finish.
City pressed and found a brave Joey Barton block in the way of a goal-bound Toure shot, but QPR held on to deliver a further blow to their title hopes.
Queens Park Rangers were confused by Mike Dean’s decision to rule out Charlie Austin’s strike
Charlie Austin had two goals ruled out before eventually scoring the opener
England manager Roy Hodgson was among those watching a pulsating game at Loftus Road
Sergio Aguero pounced late on to score his second and he now has 12 league goals for the season
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Source: BBC Sport
Champions Manchester City fell eight points behind league leaders Chelsea after drawing at Queens Park Rangers.
Rangers’ Charlie Austin had an early effort ruled out as City keeper Joe Hart’s two-touch free-kick in the build-up did not leave the penalty box.
Moments later, Austin beat Hart with a low effort but Sergio Aguero finished smartly to level before the break.
Austin’s cross forced Martin Demichelis into an own goal, but Aguero responded by rounding Rob Green to level.
The Argentine now has 12 goals in as many Premier League matches but his brilliance will only serve as mild consolation for City fans who have seen their side lose again in Europe and draw with struggling QPR less than a week after success in the Manchester derby.
Defeat to CSKA Moscow on Wednesday prompted widespread criticism of the Premier League champions and they now trail league leaders Chelsea – winners earlier in the day at Liverpool – by eight points, remaining third.
A crumb of comfort may exist in the fact City had two points fewer at the same stage last season, but the crisis in confidence raised by boss Manuel Pellegrini in midweek seemed prevalent at Loftus Road.
Only Les Ferdinand with 13 in 1995 has scored more goals in the opening 11 matchdays of a Premier League season than Sergio Aguero who has 12
Without injured captain Vincent Kompany, City were pressured early on by Harry Redknapp’s side, who move off the bottom, leapfroggingBurnley who beat Hull earlier.
Austin, who now has four goals in his last three Premier League games, was at the centre of their good work and he headed past Hart but saw his effort ruled out for offside.
When the City keeper played the resulting free-kick straight to the R’s talisman, he smashed into the net but referee Mike Dean again cut celebrations short after spotting Hart had touched the ball twice, with his first touch, vitally, not leaving the area.
Fifa’s Laws of the Game document for 2014-15 outlines why Charlie Austin’s strike was ruled out
Austin persisted and buried Eduardo Vargas’s pass to open the scoring, but Aguero was unshaken by the game’s frenetic nature.
He collected Eliaquim Mangala’s long ball brilliantly to find space and clip a leveller through the body of Rob Green.
QPR have just two wins this season but showed more enthusiasm in the second period as Leroy Fer struck wide before Austin’s cross was powered in by Demichelis under pressure from Bobby Zamora.
QPR 2-2 Man City: We don’t think about Chelsea – Pellegrini
A City response arrived as Aguero’s shot was cleared off the line by Richard Dunne and Stephen Caulker did the same to deny James Milner before QPR’s resilience was broken by the exceptional Aguero.
The league’s top scorer collected another long pass – this time from Yaya Toure – to evade the QPR keeper again, wrong-foot back-tracking home defenders and add a measured finish.
City pressed and found a brave Joey Barton block in the way of a goal-bound Toure shot, but QPR held on to deliver a further blow to their title hopes.
Queens Park Rangers were confused by Mike Dean’s decision to rule out Charlie Austin’s strike
Charlie Austin had two goals ruled out before eventually scoring the opener
England manager Roy Hodgson was among those watching a pulsating game at Loftus Road
Sergio Aguero pounced late on to score his second and he now has 12 league goals for the season
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Source: BBC Sport