Premier League: Aston Villa 2 QPR 2

Aston Villa fought back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against QPR in an entertaining clash at Villa Park on Wednesday.

QPR raced into a 2-0 lead in the first half after a Djibril Cisse strike on debut and a Stephen Warnock own goal put Mark Hughes’s side in the lead.

But Villa fought back courtesy of a Darren Bent effort just before half-time and a Charles N’Zogbia volley late into the second half to ensure the points were shared.

QPR were able to hand first-team debuts to January acquisitions Taye Taiwo, Nedum Onuoha and Djibril Cisse, with Rob Hulse and Shaun Derry also brought into the starting eleven. Aston Villa restored Charles N’Zogbia to the line-up in place of Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Cisse broke the deadlock in the 11th minute, latching onto Shaun Wright-Phillips deflected shot from the edge of the area to lash home a first-time finish from 12 yards out on his debut for QPR.

With the game beginning to open up as Villa chased an immediate response, Cisse again found himself free at the back post from a Joey Barton cross, but his volleyed effort was comfortably held by Shay Given.

QPR were firmly on top nearing the half-hour mark and it was no surprise when they went further ahead, albeit fortuitously, courtesy of a Stephen Warnock own goal.

Taye Taiwo’s deep cross seemed to lack any threat, but after Richard Dunne missed his header on the stretch, the ball bounced off the unwitting Warnock and past a despairing Given to give QPR a 2-0 lead.

A shell-shocked Villa were urged to up the tempo by a frustrated home support, and the hosts should have had a penalty when Jamie Mackie looked to have clearly handled the ball in the area late in the half.

Villa had soon found their way back into the match though, with Darren Bent sweeping home Alan Hutton’s low cross for his 100th Premier League goal on the stroke of half-time.

A second Villa goal seemed inevitable as the second half wore on, and although the hosts claims for a penalty after a blatant handball from Shaun Derry were denied, N’Zogbia blasted in a winner from the back post to level the scores.

Villa had chances to take all three points as QPR were pushed deeper and deeper, but Alex McLeish’s men could not find a third as the match finished in a draw.