Wilfried Bony scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Swansea City came from behind to earn 1-1 draw against Queens Park Rangers.
Robert Green escaped a red card in the opening minutes for the hosts, after handling a shot from Wayne Routledge outside of his box.
QPR then took the lead in the 20th minute thanks to Leroy Fer's powerful strike into the corner from range.
With four minutes of the match left, the Swans were reduced to 10 men when Routledge was sent off.
However, Garry Monk's side grabbed a point in stoppage time when Bony turned and fired a strike into the top corner.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good afternoon everyone! The New Year kicks off with a bumper schedule of Premier League action and hoping to start 2015 with a bang are Queens Park Rangers and Swansea City as they go head to head at Loftus Road.
QPR would have been confident of picking up all three points in their last game against managerless Crystal Palace, but they were held to a goalless draw. That result has left them 15th in the table and just a couple of points above the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, the Swans come into the match after a 4-1 defeat at Liverpool on Monday evening. They were thoroughly outplayed by the Reds and Garry Monk will be hoping for a much-improved away display from his side this afternoon.
It's match day! Who's coming to Loftus Road to support the #Swans today. pic.twitter.com/zP1j3Xzt7i
— Swansea City FC (@SwansOfficial) January 1, 2015
QPR XI: Green, Isla, Caulker, Dunne, Hill, Vargas, Barton, Henry, Fer, Austin, Zamora
SWANSEA XI: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Ki, Dyer, Routledge, Sigurdsson, Gomis
QPR SUBS: McCarthy, Traore, Ferdinand, Phillips, Onuoha, Mutch, Hoilett
SWANSEA SUBS: Tremmel, Richards, Bartley, Carroll, Emnes, Barrow, Bony
TEAM NEWS: QPR have made just one change to the side that played out a goalless draw with Crystal Palace. Eduardo Vargas is the man brought into the team, with Junior Hoilett dropping to the bench. Swansea have made three changes to their lineup, with Angel Rangel, Ki Sung-yueng and Bafetimbi Gomis all starting. Jonjo Shelvey begins the first match of a four-game ban, while Wilfried Bony starts the afternoon on the bench.
Having endured such a difficult time in their last Premier League campaign, QPR are in much better shape to escape the drop. At this point in the season two years ago they were stranded at the bottom of the table and despite a number of big money signings they made a quick return to the Championship.
They are not exactly flying this season, but at times they have shown the quality needed to stay up. Many of their best results have come at home and it is at Loftus Road where they play their best football. In fact, they have already picked up four more points at home this season (18) than in their last top flight campaign (14).
.@QPRFC are unbeaten in their last six league games at Loftus Road (W4, D2). #QPRvSWA
— Swansea City FC (@SwansOfficial) January 1, 2015
It didn't quite go as planned in their last fixture on Sunday afternoon, as they were unable to find a way past a stubborn Crystal Palace side. That brought to an end a three game winning run in front of their own fans and they will no doubt be targeting some points today with Manchester United the next club to visit West London.
I have mentioned that QPR's last season in the top flight ended in relegation, but it was in their first league match of 2013 that they pulled off one of the shocks of the season. On that occasion a strike from Shaun Wright-Phillips earned them a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but it proved fruitless as they would go on to win just twice more and finish bottom of the league.
Taking on QPR this afternoon are a Swansea side that were beaten by Liverpool in the last Premier League game of 2014. A number of defensive mistakes contributed to their loss at Anfield and it proved to be another disappointing result on the road.
The Swans have actually won just one of their last eight games away from the Liberty Stadium, with that sole victory coming against a struggling Hull City outfit. It is certainly an area that they will want to improve upon in the second half of the season if they are to finish in the top half of the table.
As things stand, the club are eighth in the league and only five points off the final Champions League qualifying position. A finish inside the top four may be slightly beyond their reach, but there is no doubt that they have the players capable of securing a return to the Europe League for next season.
One thing that could hamper the Swans charge up the table over the next few weeks is the loss of some of their key players. After today's match, Wilfried Bony and Ki Sung Yueng are going to be on international duty, while Jonjo Shelvey will also be missing, having picked up a ban for elbowing Emre Can at Anfield on Monday.
It may be a case of déjà vu for the players today, as they only met a few weeks ago in Wales. On that occasion Swansea came out on top, with late goals from Ki and Wayne Routledge giving them a 2-0 win.
© Getty Images
That victory was Swansea's third successive win in the league over QPR. They met at Loftus Road on the first day of last season where the Swans romped to a 5-0 victory. However, their two previous clashes in West London ended in 3-0 and 4-0 wins for the R's.
PREDICTION: Swansea were the better side when the two teams met last month, but QPR are a very different prospect at home. They have picked up some very decent results at Loftus Road and it is important to their survival hopes that they get something today. So, for those reasons I am going to tip Harry Redknapp's side to get all three points with a 2-1 victory.
Here's a statistic that Swansea fans will like the look of. Nathan Dyer has scored three goals in his last three starts against QPR. The winger will certainly be hoping that his good run can continue on the first day of the New Year.
We're around three minutes away from kick off and the players have just made their way out onto the pitch. Do remember that we've got live coverage of every Premier League game this afternoon and indeed for the rest of the year!
KICKOFF! We are underway at Villa Park!
The Swans are seeing a lot of the ball in the early stages and they almost create a decent chance. They get Routledge in down the left and he shifts the ball back onto his right foot, before whipping in a dangerous cross. The defence fail to deal with it, but the ball just evades Gomis who can't quite get a touch as the ball heads out of play.
It's all Swansea in the opening five minutes and they are putting the QPR defence under a lot of pressure. The Swans win a succession of corners, but so far they have not been able to create a clear chance on goal.
Well, we're only six minutes into the game and already we have seen one of the most controversial decisions of the year. Routledge is played through on goal and Green comes rushing off his line. As the Swansea man touches the ball past the keeper, Green is outside the box and saves the ball with his hand. Remarkably, it was not spotted by the referee or his assistant, as the keeper should really have been sent off there.
QPR just haven't got started yet and the visitors are getting into some very dangerous positions now. Routledge has been at the heart of their best moves and he has another shot on goal, which this time he scuffs wide of the far post.
The hosts have just begun to see a bit more of the possession and they are making inroads into the Swansea half. As yet, they have not been able to trouble Fabianski, and the keeper will be hoping it stays that way after his poor showing at Anfield the other night.
SHOT! We all know how lethal Austin can be inside the box and he has his first glimpse of goal this afternoon. A long throw is not dealt with and Vargas fires in a low strike from just inside the box. It deflects through to Austin, who controls the ball and immediately goes for goal, but his effort takes a deflection and loops kindly into the arms of the keeper.
QPR are getting closer now and again it's Austin who has another half-chance. This time a corner is badly dealt with by the Swans and the ball drops kindly to an unmarked Austin. The striker doesn't take the greatest first touch and by the time he goes to shoot, the attempt is blocked and deflects over the bar.
GOAL! Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Swansea City (Leroy Fer)
Wow! What a way this is to start the year by Fer! The midfielder latches onto a poor headed clearance by Fernandez and takes a touch, before lashing in a stunning half-volley from just outside the box. It was a wonderful hit and there was no chance of the keeper saving it.
MISS! QPR really should be two goals up as Zamora misses a very decent opening. The forward is picked out in the middle by Vargas's cross from the right, but he ends up heading the ball over the bar. That really should have ended up in the back of the net.
CHANCE! Fer's goal has really sparked the contest into life and it is end to end at the moment. Swansea are looking very dangerous when they come forward and they probably should have found the net here, as Gomis is found on the right-hand side of the box by Dyer, but the Frenchman ends up drilling his low shot across goal and inches wide of the far post.
The pace of this game is not relenting and I would be very surprised if we don't see another goal. Both defences are looking a bit shaky and the wide men from each team are causing plenty of danger down the flanks.
Gomis has shown some neat touches in the first half of this match, but his finishing has let him down on a couple of occasions. This time, he skips past a couple of defenders and works some room on the edge of the box, before striking a really poor effort, that trickles harmlessly into the gloves of the keeper.
Swansea are creating plenty of decent chances at the moment and they will be hopeful of going into the break on level terms. Gomis is at the heart of their attack once more, as he looks to get on the end of Routledge's cross, but is just beaten to the ball by a fine header behind by Caulker.
SHOT! The hosts must really fancy their chances of scoring from range today as they win the ball around 25 yards out from goal and Isla lets fly. His effort is well struck, but it is at a good height for Fabianski, who gets down and palms the ball clear. It comes out to Zamora, but the striker was standing in an offside position as he lashed over the bar.
CHANCE! Swansea continue to push for a goal before the break and they work the ball to Gomis, who sees his close-range effort blocked. It is then deflected to Sigurdsson, who also sees an attempt blocked, before Routledge fires the ball wide of the post.
OFF THE POST! While Swansea should be back in this game, they have been caught out at the back on a number of occasions. They are looking very sloppy down the right and when a cross into the box is touched on by Zamora, Vargas arrives in behind to lash a strike onto the outside of the post from a very tight angle.
There is going to be one minute of added time at the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Swansea City
The first half comes to an end and it's Queens Park Rangers who lead thanks to Leroy Fer's stunning goal. That does not tell the full story, as referee Anthony Taylor really should have sent Robert Green off in the opening minutes for handling the ball off his line. Swansea will surely have something to say about that if they fail to get anything from this game after the break.
A very eventful 45 minutes has ended with Swansea dominating the possession. They have seen 55% of the ball and you would expect that to rise as they push for an equaliser. In attack, both teams have been as lively as each other, with 11 shots on goal and two efforts finding the target apiece.
© Getty Images
Swansea have looked dangerous going forward this afternoon, but they are just missing that clinical finishing touch. Gomis has got into some positions, but is yet to force Green into a save. I would certainly expect Bony to come on within minutes of the restart, as the Ivorian has proven that he is more than capable of finding the net.
There is still plenty of work for QPR to do if they are to claim the three points. They too have caused plenty of trouble for their opponents coming forward, but at the back they still look very open and their defensive record this season has not been great.
33 - Only QPR (34) have conceded more goals in the Premier League this season than Everton. Leaky.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 1, 2015
QPR take the kick off for the second half and get the match back underway!
There have been chances as yet to talk about in the opening minutes of the second half. It has been quite scrappy and neither side has been able to string a decent number of passes together.
CHANCES! QPR crank it up a notch and come close to grabbing a second. Austin is agonizingly close when his header hits the post and moments later Fer curls in a strike from outside the box that deflects inches over the bar.
CHANCE! It's Swansea's turn to come within inches of finding the net, as Fernandez rises to meet Sigurdsson's free kick, but ends up platning his header just wide of the far post.
CHANCE! The chances are coming thick and fast for both teams now and down the other end of the pitch Barton arrives unmarked to meet Zamora's cross from the right, but his header is straight down the middle and lacks enough power to beat the keeper.
CHANCE! Swansea are coming ever close to finding a breakthrough and Gomis picks out Sigurdsson on the edge of the box, who works some space, before curling a strike just past the post. I'm not sure that Green would have got there if it was on target, as the keeper was at full stretch.
YELLOW CARD! We have seen the first booking of the afternoon and it's Isla who is carded for a foul on Taylor.
CLOSE! This is another close call for the hosts, as they allow Routledge far too much space too cut in from the left. The winger then gets into a good shooting position from the edge of the box and drills in an effort that goes just wide of the target.
SUBSTITUTION: Swansea make the first change of the afternoon, with Emnes replacing Dyer.
YELLOW CARD! QPR pick up their second booking in a matter of minutes, as Dunne is shown yellow for a foul on Gomis.
Bony has been warming up on the sidelines for Swansea, but it is does seem strange that he wasn't brought on a few minutes ago. The striker has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City and possibly that is the reason he was not in the starting lineup this afternoon.
The game has just lost its spark over the past few minutes and Swansea are struggling to create any chances. They seem to be lacking a real threat in the final third, but there is plenty of time left for them to get something in the closing stages.
SHOT! We have already seen Fer crack in a wonderful goal today and he has a go from a similar position after Swansea afford him far too much space. This time he doesn't catch the shot as sweetly and he drags the ball well wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Here's the change that the Swansea fans were surely hoping for, as Bony is now on the pitch, with Sigurdsson heading off.
SAVE! Bony almost finds the net with his first shot on goal. The Swans win a free kick just outside the box and the Ivorian steps up to take it. He curls in a fine looking strike, but Green gets across his line quickly to tip the ball behind for a corner.
MISS! The visitors really have had some great chances to score in this second half. Gomis has not had the greatest of games and after winning a header from a corner at the back post, he should be hitting the target, but instead he directs the ball wide.
OFF THE LINE! I've no idea how Swansea aren't level here. Bony plays a wonderful ball through to Ki, who sees his shot saved at point-blank range by the keeper, before Emnes follows up and sees his header cleared off the line by Dunne.
CHANCE! With Swansea pushing so many men forward it has left them open to the counter and they are nearly caught out when Fer slides Vargas through on goal. He receives the ball in a wide position, but goes for goal anyway and smashes a low effort into the side netting.
RED CARD! This could be it for Swansea's chances of getting back into the game as Routledge is shown a straight red card. The midfielder was involved in a scuffle with Henry and it appears that he kicked out at the QPR man. Any contact was minimal and Routledge can consider himself very unlucky.
There are going to be three minutes of stoppage time.
GOAL! Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Swansea City (Wilfried Bony)
What a huge goal this is for Swansea and it could be Bony's last for the club. The Ivorian is picked out just inside the box by Ki, before turning and firing a strike past Green and into the top corner. There was no way the keeper was saving that and it was a fantastic piece of skill from the forward.
FULL-TIME: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Swansea City
It's all over at Loftus Road! Swansea have left it late, but they have managed to grab a point thanks to Wilfried Bony's strike. QPR will be devastated at conceding in stoppage time and their inability to hold out against 10 men.
That just about does it for today's coverage. We've got analysis and player ratings of every game coming up for you shortly so stick around for that. Until then, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
