Queens Park Rangers and Brighton & Hove Albion have played out a goalless first half in their Championship clash at Loftus Road.

The home side thought that they had taken an early lead when Joey Barton tapped home from Shaun Wright Phillips's cross, but the winger was adjudged to have been offside.

QPR's Nedum Onuoha was forced to leave the pitch midway through the first half with a thigh injury, with former Tottenham Hotspur full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto replacing him.

Brighton's best chance of the half came when Keith Andrews's deflected drive dropped just wide of the post.

QPR could have taken the lead through Charlie Austin, but the striker delayed his effort following good work by Gary O'Neill and Andrews recovered well to nick the ball off the forward's toes.

Austin was denied once more as half time approached when his header was pushed behind by Tomasz Kuszczak.