Newcastle frustrate new-look QPR

Queens Park Rangers failed to spark their new era into life despite an encouraging display as they were held to a goalless draw by Newcastle. Shaun Wright-Phillips was a menace on his debut as he headed over before having a chip cleared off the line. Jay Bothroyd added to an open first half but was also denied under the bar by Danny Simpson and squandered a volley from seven yards out. Leon Best had Newcastle's best chance but Paddy Kenny saved to his right. The hosts faded after the break with Wright-Phillips going close again with a shot from distance after a fine run. And though QPR boss Neil Warnock might have been disappointed not to have won the game, he would have taken solace in the way six debutants integrated themselves into the team. Wright-Phillips struck an instant understanding with Adel Taarabt to create a number of chances for Bothroyd, who has still to open his account since a summer move from Cardiff, and they were guided by the impressive Alejandro Faurlin throughout. But they came up against a solid Newcastle defence, who continued their unbeaten start to the season and now sit fourth in the Premier League table. QPR looked the far more cohesive of the two sides and, with the midfield area congested, made early inroads down the flanks. Wright-Phillips headed one chance off-target, but he would have been more dismayed to see his cross volleyed over by Bothroyd from seven yards out on 15 minutes. Before that effort, Best drew a fine save from Kenny after he twisted past Danny Gabbidon, but even though the Newcastle striker boasted of his team's togetherness before kick-off, it was the hosts who were linking well. Bothroyd failed to capitalise on further opportunities and only Steven Taylor's goal-line header denied Wright-Phillips once he had hurdled Fabricio Coloccini's challenge and chipped towards goal. The winger did not look like a player who last made a Premier League start a year ago, and he appeared to have enough energy to power the Loftus Road floodlights such was the regularity of his bursts down the right. Much was made beforehand of Joey Barton's debut against his former employers and the Liverpudlian was announced as the new skipper before kick-off. But for the most part he was content to offer a more patient approach on the opposite flank. Wright-Phillips moved back to the left at the start of the second period but mis-kicked a shot from Faurlin's floated pass, following Jonas Gutierrez's fluffed effort at the other end. Warnock's side lost their impetus at the start of the second half but there were few signs that Newcastle would spoil the west London party under new owner Tony Fernandes. Bothroyd again could not get on the end of Wright-Phillips' dinked cross and Shaun Derry failed to direct his header from a corner on target. Danny Simpson was one of Newcastle's best defenders, producing several teasing crosses combined with some good blocks and his manager Alan Pardew would have been satisfied with the clean sheet. The hosts, meanwhile, will be content that they blooded their new signings even if they did not make the breakthrough they perhaps deserved in the first period. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew: "I am not disappointed we did not get any more from this game because we did not deserve any more. "We went with two strikers but with all the exuberance here with all the players they have brought in, maybe I should have helped my central midfielder out. "Offensively we never created enough to win the game, but on the plus side, defensively we showed what we have been doing all season. "We don't give much away and there is a spirit in the group that makes it hard for teams to beat us. "Our flair players were just a little bit off-key tonight. Sometimes when you don't play well, you get beat. We didn't get beaten."