QPR bounced back from their defeat by Ipswich to secure a hard-fought point at Ninian Park and stay firmly in the play-off picture. Rangers enjoyed the better of the second half and could have claimed all three points, but Heidar Helguson nudged their bes

QPR bounced back from their defeat by Ipswich to secure a hard-fought point at Ninian Park and stay firmly in the play-off picture.

Rangers enjoyed the better of the second half and could have claimed all three points, but Heidar Helguson nudged their best opportunity wide of goal late on.

But the draw maintains the Rs' excellent record against the top sides in the Championship this season - they have beaten both Wolves and Birmingham, drawn twice with Reading and now taken four points from Cardiff.

The Welshmen looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the first half, with Darren Purse's deflected volley saved by Radek Cerny, who reclaimed the goalkeeper's shirt from Lee Camp.

Ross McCormack fired over the crossbar, while the intervention of Kaspars Gorkss prevented Joe Ledley from scoring with a full-blooded drive just before the break.

But Cardiff afforded their visitors more space in the second period and Damien Delaney and Gavin Mahon both went close from distance before Helguson met Mikele Leigertwood's cross to the near post, but failed to direct it towards the target.

And Wayne Routledge - booed throughout by the home fans angered by the circumstances of his departure from Ninian Park in January - might have silenced them in the final minute with a cross-shot that flew across the area and wide.

QPR: Cerny; Connolly, Stewart, Gorkss, Delaney; Mahon (Blackstock 88); Routledge, MILLER* (Alberti 58), Leigertwood, Cook; Helguson (Di Carmine 90).