Barclays Premier League

QPR HOLD OUT FOR HUGE POINT

Goalless, controversy-less and a classic 10 men behind the ball encounter - yes. A bore draw? Absolutely not, that's about the most action-packed 0-0 you could imagine, as Manchester City rained down almost as heavily as it did inside Loftus Road for 90 minutes, but couldn't find a way through. David Silva came closest in the second half, but Julio Cesar was the saviour. The home side gave the English champions a few scares, too, Adel Taarabt going closest.

FULL TIME

It's all over at Loftus Road. Queens Park Rangers earn a massive point against Manchester City.

TAARABT CHANCE

Queens Park Rangers come forward now! Adel Taarabt jinks past the defender with a nutmeg and his curling effort earns a corner. Ji-Sung Park, Bobby Zamora and Alejandro Faurlin have entered the fray, with Loic Remy, Stephane Mbia and Esteban Granero departing. On that penalty appeal, it appears the ref made a good decision as Nedum Onuoha got some of the ball.

PENALTY SHOUT!!

Well, perhaps this claim has a little more substance to it. Scott Sinclair nutmegs Nedum Onuoha and the defender pokes the ball - or the attacker - with his studs to halt the attack. No penalty says the ref.

BLOCKED!

David Silva almost nudges his side ahead once more, this time denied by a strong block from Ryan Nelsen. The handball claims go unnoticed. Scott Sinclair has come on for James Milner in a final throw of the dice.

SO CLOSE!!

Julio Cesar keeps his side in it again, proving his worth as a world-class shot-stopper. Dzeko pulls it back for David Silva, who fires towards goal. Cesar makes a superb save to bundle it away from danger.

10 MINUTES TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK

Tension is increasing inside Loftus Road, as Manchester City continue to search for that illusive opening goal. Don't rule out a shock QPR winner, though; the home side have looked pretty dangerous on the break.

FREE KICK

That Gareth Barry foul gave QPR a decent free kick opportunity, but after a load of bickering about wall's distance from the ball, Esteban Granero sums up his performance today with a terrible effort.

FANS BECOMING ACTIVE

Gareth Barry, who has already been booked, is penalised for a foul on Stephane Mbia and the home fans are on the referee's back once again. It was actually a poor decision, and the City man did nothing wrong, but at least he didn't go overboard and send him off.

PENALTY SHOUT

Queens Park Rangers put together a rare attack and Loic Remy takes a tumble in the area. The assistant rules against QPR and consequently comes under a torrent of abuse from the home fans. It was a pretty tenuous appeal, though, and the challenge actually occurred outside the area.

DISAPPOINTING

That's a chance! Especially for someone of Aguero's stature. The Argentine gets on the end of a Dzeko cross but cannot trouble the keeper. Jack Rodwell has come on for Carlos Tevez, who isn't too happy about that decision.

TURNING THE SCREW

Manchester City deliver another wicked ball from the right, but Clint Hill heads behind, with Tevez lurking behind him. The resulting corner comes to nothing.

CORNER KICK

Queens Park Rangers gift away a corner, as the ball was going out for a goal kick before a defender deflected it. The corner finds its way to David Silva, who sports excellent technique whilst forcing a good save from a left-footer from just outside the box.

FRUSTRATION EVIDENT

Frustration is seeping into Manchester City's play as Gareth Barry becomes the first man in blue to be sanctioned. Meanwhile, James Milner crosses for Edin Dzeko, but the forward can't sort his feet out and the chance is spurned.

MANCINI LOOKING UNEASY

Manchester City have dominated possession - 75% in fact, but Roberto Mancini is looking increasingly anxious on the side, as time ticks down and the score remains unaltered.

SUBSTITUTION

Here comes that change we've all been waiting for. Goal machine Edin Dzeko - who has four in the last four - replaces Samir Nasri, who has been the most ineffective of the front four. Esteban Granero has been cautioned.

AGUERO A MENACE

Despite QPR's best efforts, they are struggling to contain Sergio Aguero, whose trickery is proving too much. He has no room to work with but manages to get a decent cross in, but Tevez opts not to head it, and the chance is spurned. If only Dzeko was on the end of that...

PRESSURE MOUNTING

Manchester City are building pressure now, with David Silva pulling the strings. No hint of a breakthrough so far though.

GREAT RUNNING

Adel Taarabt evades the challenge of two Manchester City players quite brilliantly, before darting across the field. He doesn't have much support, even from Remy, and his solo effort is thwarted by a brave block from Joleon Lescott. Nevertheless positive play from the hosts.

QPR STARTING BRIGHTLY

Queens Park Rangers looks pretty comfortable at the start of this second half, they've even ventured into uncharted territory - the opponent's half. Dzeko was warming up at the break and that has continued, so his introduction shouldn't be too far away.

SECOND HALF

Here we go again... there's been no changes at the interval.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

Manchester City have chipped away constantly but QPR don't look like caving in anytime soon. They've withstood heavy pressure throughout and survived a couple of near-misses, but deservedly are in with a shout in the second period. Pablo Zabaleta went close for City, hitting the bar following a lovely chipped ball from David Silva. The best chance of the half actually fell to Adel Taarabt, who broke free as QPR broke from a City corner. Joe Hart made an unparalleled save to keep the scores level; that is, until Julio Cesar bettered it at the other end moments later, somehow keeping Gareth Barry's curling shot out.

HALF TIME

45 minutes down, 45 to go... QPR are level at the break.

COMPLETELY UNBELIEVABLE SAVE!

Wow, well Joe Hart's super shot moments ago looks average compared to this. Gareth Barry works the ball right and receives it back from Tevez, hitting it sweetly first time. He thinks he's scored but Julio Cesar somehow gets a hand to it, steering the ball wide. Joe Hart is pretty impressed and offers some applause from the other end of the field.

UNBELIEVABLE SAVE!

That would have been a shock! Queens Park Rangers break from a City corner and suddenly it's two-on-two, with City over-committing bodies. Taarabt is too pacy for the defence and does everything right. Joe Hart does everything better and makes a top-class save to deny the QPR protagonist. Meanwhile, Stephane Mbia has beeen booked.

RISKING LIFE AND LIMB

Queens Park Rangers may not have the finesse of the likes of David Silva or the efficiency of Sergio Aguero, but they do ooze grit and determination. At it's that that is keeping them in this tie, as the defenders throw themselves in front of the ball time and time again.

SUPER SUB NEEDED?

It's still early days of course, but City aren't looking like piercing the stubborn defence of the hosts. You have to feel that an aerial presence would help, and they have the so-called super sub on the bench. He's not too fond of that tag though, and perhaps he has a point - he's the top-scorer and has scored in the last three games against QPR. Surely that merits a place?

FLOP SIGNING

Esteban Granero cost a hell of a lot for a club like QPR, and he looks by far the worst player on the pitch. Completely out of sorts, he looks worried and rushed in possession and desperate when chasing possession. The QPR fans will certainly be questioning when they're going to get their money's worth. Alejandro Faurlin has been sent to warm up so an early change could be on the cards.

GARCIA ALMOST CAUGHT

Queens Park Rangers earn a free kick and catch Javi Garcia napping with a simple quick set piece. Loic Remy controls well but Garcia recovers just enough to deflect the ball wide of Joe Hart's goal.

ALMOST A SCREAMER

Fabio half-clears the ball to Javi Garcia on the halfway line, and the QPR side expect City to build up an attack once again. Garcia has other ideas and lashes towards goal from 40 yards out. Julio Cesar panics and dives at full stretch, but luckily the ball goes marginally wide.

CROSSBAR!

That's the nearest we've come to a goal. Sergio Aguero drifts past two defenders with ease, and pulls it back for David Silva, who sails past the same two helpless markers just as easily. He then chips the ball to Pablo Zabaleta, who is totally unmarked 12 yards out, but is denied only by the crossbar!

FRUITLESS CORNERS

Joleon Lescott is once again the recipient of David Silva's corner, but can't make the most of it. The second corner is cleared by Loic Remy, and the third miscontrolled by Julio Cesar, who eventually manages to tip over for a fourth. This time Loic Remy manages to clear the ball upfield.

GOOD SHAPE

Manchester City are turning the screw a little now, and creating some pretty neat interplay. Queens Park Rangers are looking organised though, with the four-man defence keeping their shape, and the two deep-lying midfielders - Fabio and Adel Taarabt - chasing the play all over. Sergio Aguero forces the second corner after creeping in from the left wing.

GOOD FORTUNE FOR RANGERS

James Milner pressurises Esteban Granero into giving the ball back in a promising position, as the ex-Madrid player wanted far too much time there. Milner releases Tevez, and gets the ball back but the Blues fail to capitalise and his low cross is deflected into the keeper's arms.

FIRST SHOT

Seven minutes in and so far, plan successful for QPR. They are happy to sit behind the ball, but all of a sudden, the visitors earn a corner through a blocked Aguero shot - the QPR defence were on him like vultures as he teed up there. The resulting corner almost leads to a goal. The windy conditions cannot excuse the terrible punched clearance from Julio Cesar. The ball goes straight to Joleon Lescott, who volleys wide. If that'd fallen to one of the attackers, it would be 1-0 now.

THERE'S ALWAYS A SILVA LINING

Yep, that's the best 'Silva' pun I could fathom. The current champions are five points adrift of their Manchester rivals, but with two goals from David Silva in the last game, the Spaniard could start hitting that unstoppable form soon, and that'll certainly help in the title race. Interestingly, Fabio has been put in right-midfield to try and counter this threat.

PACE SET

Well, the expected tone of the match already looks set in place, with City dominant in possession early on, and Queens Park Rangers cramped in their own half. I'm sure that's all part of Redknapp's plan though; a draw would be more than welcomed.

KICK OFF

Manchester City get us underway and it's a pretty tame start, with the visitors trying to find their rhythm.

REDKNAPP RECORD

Queens Park Rangers have actually got a pretty good record under their relatively new boss, Harry Redknapp, taking 11 points from the last 10 games. He's already masterminded an away victory against Chelsea. A win tonight would be another huge scalp - he looks pretty nonchalent as the teams come out, though.

MAN CITY LINE-UP

Very interesting, Mr Mancini; Javi Garcia - usually playing in a more advanced role - starts in the heart of defence alongside the obvious choice, Joleon Lescott. Garcia is so far unproven in this position, perhaps something the hosts can exploit. The rest of the team look championship-worthy, however. Samir Nasri, Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Sergio Aguero all start.

QPR LINE-UP

Many of those first-team regulars return to the line-up, including star man Adel Taarabt. Let's see if he can cause the partially makeshift defense any problems. New boy Loic Remy looks pretty efficient in front of goal, too. Whether or not he'll get any chances against the English Champions is another thing.

MAN CITY TEAM NEWS

Manchester City will be without captain Vincent Kompany, who is ruled out with a calf injury. Mancini's defensive choices will be interesting, with Nastasic also absent. Heaven forbid - they may even have to delve into the £20 million reserves, such as Joleon Lescott or Kolo Toure.

QPR TEAM NEWS

Shaun Wright-Phillips is unlikely to welcome his own club to Loftus Road - well, maybe from the sidelines - as he is suffering from an ankle injury. Junior Hoilett is also unlikely to feature. On the bright side, the first team constants should be well-rested and ready to take on the champions, after many were rested in the cup against MK Dons.

LAST TIME OUT

The Blues made hard work of their 3-1 victory at the Etihad earlier on in the season, with Bobby Zamora cancelling out Yaya Toure's opener on the stroke of half time. Parity didn't last, though, with Dzeko restoring the lead and Tevez making sure late on. The FA Cup upset weekend will have to fizzle through to these midweek fixtures if QPR are to pull off a result - or even test City, with the visitors in fine defensive form, boasting a run of three straight clean sheets.

MATCH PREVIEW

Tonight's slice of Premier League action has a lot to live up to – of course, we can't expect anywhere near as much drama as this tie produced last season, with Manchester City snatching the title with two last minute goals from Dzeko and Aguero. Truth be told, QPR will be written off even more this time around, as their relegation into the Championship is all but sealed. Their survival is mathematically feasible, with only five points separating them from safety, but racking up points has been like “getting blood out of a stone”, according to Rangers' boss Harry Redknapp. The home side were more than disappointing against MK Dons in the cup, but they will be sure to give it everything in a fight for top flight survival.