N'Zogbia rescues Villa
Charles N'Zogbia scored his first goal for Aston Villa and spoilt the debut of QPR striker Djibril Cisse as Alex McLeish's side rallied from 2-0 down to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw at Villa Park.
Cisse scored a stunning debut goal and then Villa defender Stephen Warnock's own goal doubled their lead.
But Darren Bent gave the home side a lifeline before half-time with his 100th Premier League goal before N'Zogbia equalised.
Cisse needed only 12 minutes to make an impact for his new club after his move from Lazio had only received its final clearance 90 minutes before kick-off.
There was an element of luck about the build-up with Shaun Wright-Phillips scuffing his shot into the path of Cisse.
But the finish was clinical as he drilled a low shot across Shay Given into the far corner of the net before celebrating with a trademark somersault.
Villa tried to retaliate and Ciaran Clark shot just wide after a neat chip from Robbie Keane while QPR keeper Paddy Kenny clung onto a low Bent drive.
But after 29 minutes an own goal from left-back Warnock doubled QPR's lead.
There appeared little danger when Taye Taiwo delivered a deep cross but Warnock inexplicably headed the ball back across Given into the far corner of the net.
It was Warnock's second costly error in three home games after his blunder had handed Swansea their opening goal in a 2-0 win at the start of January.
The home side came close to reducing the arrears when Kenny turned away a Richard Dunne header from a Stiliyan Petrov centre.
Keane was unfortunate when his shot deflected off Petrov and struck the woodwork with Kenny well beaten.
Bent got up well to direct a header past the post from an Alan Hutton centre before reducing the arrears with his 100th Premier League goal in injury time.
Keane played in Hutton and in typically predatory fashion Bent was in position to convert his low cross from close range.
Villa started the second half on the offensive and their former player, Luke Young, was booked for bringing down N'Zogbia.
Dunne had a shot blocked by Joey Barton and a low Petrov drive struck the feet of Kenny.
Villa had strong claims for a penalty rejected as Shaun Derry had his arm raised when blocking an effort from Clark.
Kenny was again tested to deny Keane away to his left after being found in space by Stephen Ireland.
But Jamie Mackie completely miskicked with the goal at his mercy from a low Wright-Phillips cross.
After 79 minutes N'Zogbia brought Villa level with his first goal since his #9million summer move from Wigan.
Petrov supplied the left wing cross and N'Zogbia volleyed his left-footed drive past Kenny.
Villa pressed for the winner and Bent had a shot cleared off the line from QPR's new defender Nedum Onuoha and then appeals for handball against Barton were rejected from a Keane follow-up effort.
Kenny did well to turn aside an N'Zogbia piledriver with three minutes left.
Source: PA
Source: PA