The R's fine form continued at St James' Park, as Jim Magilton's men claimed a deserved share of the spoils against table-topping Newcastle United, ending the Geordies' one-hundred per-cent home record.

Ben Watson handed the visitors an early seventh minute lead, firing home with the aid of a deflection from 15-yards out, to hand the 1,500 plus R's fans a dream start.

Radek Cerny's save from a Danny Guthrie spot-kick eleven minutes later provided plenty more for the Hoops supporters to cheer, but the Geordies weren't to be denied, as substitute Marlon Harewood poked home his first goal for the Club 20 minutes from time.

The draw stretched the R's unbeaten run to six matches in the Championship, at a ground where the Geordies - before tonight at least- had won every fixture.

Magilton named an unchanged line-up for the clash against the Championship pacesetters.

Following Saturday's 5-2 thrashing of Barnsley, the R's gaffer stuck to his guns, meaning Radek Cerny lined up behind a back four of Mikele Leigertwood, Kaspars Gorkss, Damion Stewart and Gary Borrowdale.

Akos Buzsaky and Wayne Routledge occupied the wide berth in midfield, with Watson partnering skipper Martin Rowlands in the middle of the park.

In attack, free-scoring Arsenal loanee Jay Simpson partnered Rowan Vine.

Magilton's faith in his Saturday starters meant Peter Ramage had to make do with a place on the bench against his former Club.

The Geordies were forced into changes, with Fabricio Coloccini and Ryan Taylor missing out.

The two Danny's - Simpson and Guthrie - returned at their expense, whilst Chris Hughton resisted the temptation to start recent loan addition Harewood up front, instead opting for the young pairing of Andy Carroll and Nile Ranger.

In a fast-paced opening, it was the R's who created the first chance of note in the third minute.

Leigertwood and Routledge combined to devastating effect down the right flank and when the latter fed Vine, his left footed drive was well held by Steve Harper low down to his left.

Rangers were enjoying a lot of possession and just four minutes later, they made it count.

Simpson's dogged hustling forced Jose Enrique into a poor clearance and when Watson picked up possession midway inside the Geordies half, he took a couple of touches to set himself before letting fly from the edge of the box.

Harper seemed in a decent position, but as the ball deflected off Steven Taylor's trailing leg, the Newcastle number one was powerless to prevent the ball trickling over the line.

It was only the fifth goal Newcastle had conceded all season - and just their second at home - and triggered negative chances from the Geordie faithful towards owner Mike Ashley.

To their credit, the hosts responded positively and when Stewart was harshly adjudged to have handled Taylor's thunderous goal-bound drive in the 18th minute, referee Mr Rob Shoebridge pointed to the spot.

Guthrie stepped up, but Cerny guessed correctly from the spot - for the second match in succession - diving to his right to deny the midfielder from 12-yards.

The R's midfield quartet were seeing plenty of the ball, but it was the hosts who crafted the next opportunity.

Borrowdale's slip allowed Guthrie to coast through unmarked, but Cerny was equal to it yet again, saving at his near post as the Newcastle midfielder opted to shoot from an acute angle.

The Geordies were turning the screw and from a 33rd minute corner, the appropriately named Ranger saw his header cleared off the line by Borrowdale.

Seconds later, Cerny was at it again, this time denying Kevin Nolan, as the former Bolton man directed a header on target.

At the other end, Watson volleyed over, as the R's attempted to grasp a foothold in the game.

And to be fair to Magilton's men, they did just that, with Buzsaky firing over from fully 30-yards with a thunderous effort moments before the break.

The Magical Magyar had another chance on the stroke of half-time, but his ambitious effort from 50-yards - after Harper's poor clearance fell into his path - faded wide.

Sensing his side were in danger of slipping to their first home defeat of the season, Hughton threw on Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez at the expense of the ineffective Nicky Butt at the break.

But it was the R's who were on the front foot from the first minute of the second period.

Indeed, the half was only three minutes old when Vine's expert cross from the left found the unmarked Stewart, who rose powerfully to head inches wide.

Magilton's expression from his technical area suggested he thought the ball was destined for the back of the net, but unfortunately for the R's, it faded just the wrong side of the post.

The murmurs emanating from the stands told their own story, as the natives began to turn on their charges, especially the unfortunate Guthrie, who was guilty of a horrendously taken set-piece.

Rangers were very much in the ascendancy and when Buzsaky, Rowlands and Borrowdale exchanged passes on the edge of the Newcastle box, Vine fired a yard or so wide.

Moments later, a goalmouth scramble from another expert Buzsaky corner kick saw the ball fall at the feet of Stewart, but his shot on the turn somehow failed to find the back of the net, with Taylor sticking out a boot to divert the ball wide.

Cerny was a virtual spectator, called upon just once in the opening 20 minutes of the half to save Carroll's free-kick.

Hughton made his second change just after the hour - introducing Harewood - and ten minutes later he made his mark.

Carroll's downward header at the back post caused confusion in the R's ranks and the Aston Villa loanee tapped home from close range.

It was harsh on the R's, but the relief from the home faithful was clear for all to see.

Magilton responded by bringing on Adel Taarabt for the hardworking Simpson, as the R's went in search of a second.

The midfielder made an immediate impact, gliding towards the edge of the penalty box before dragging his 15-yard shot wide.

Both sides continued to search for a winner, but despite three minutes of added time, honours ended even. 

Newcastle United: Harper, Enrique, Nolan, Guthrie (Lovenkrands 88), Simpson, Khizanishvili, Smith, Butt (Gutierrez 46), Carroll, Taylor, Ranger (Harewood 61).

Subs: Geremi, Krul, Kadar, Donaldson.

Goals: Harewood (70)

Bookings: Smith (68)

QPR: Cerny, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge, Vine (Faurlin 87), Buzsaky, Gorkss, Rowlands, Watson, Simpson (Taarabt 73), Borrowdale.

Subs: Ramage, Agyemang, Pellicori, Heaton, Ephraim.

Goals: Watson (7)

Bookings: Stewart (75), Leigertwood (90), Buzsaky (90)

Referee: Mr R Shoebridge

Attendance: 38,923