Warnock frustrated as Hoops held by Robins’ flying finish

STEVEN CAULKER’S late equaliser saw Bristol City earn a 2-2 draw at QPR to deny the npower Championship leaders the chance to open up a seven-point gap at the top of the table yesterday.

Brett Pitman had fired the Robins into a 50th minute lead but a goal from Alejandro Faurlin and Adel Taarabt’s penalty had looked set to give Neil Warnock’s men all three points. But Caulker tapped home Jamal Campbell-Ryce’s cross to deny them in injury-time.

“We made two schoolboy errors at the back. They were a disgrace at any level let alone the Championship,” said QPR boss Neil Warnock.

Shane Long grabbed a brace for Reading as they leapfrogged managerless Burnley with a 2-1 win at the Madejski Stadium, after Ross Wallace had given the visitors the lead.

Norwich are QPR’s nearest challengers after their 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough moved them above Swansea into the second automatic promotion place, on goal difference.

At the bottom Crystal Palace gave caretaker boss Dougie Freedman a win in his first game in charge with a 1-0 success over basement side Preston.

Sheffield United remain just above the relegation places after coming from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers. Hull extended their unbeaten away run to eight games with a 3-2 win at Portsmouth.

Jimmy Bullard put the Tigers ahead from the spot before Ireland’s Liam Lawrence struck a penalty to level matters. Matty Fryatt’s debut goal and a strike from Nicky Barmby put the visitors 3-1 up, meaning Greg Halford’s goal was not enough for Pompey.

Matthew Whichelow’s late winner handed Watford a 2-1 win against Scunthorpe at Glanford Park, in a game hampered by floodlight problems during the second half. When the lights were working Martyn Woolford gave the hosts the lead just a minute after Michael O’Connor had blazed over the bar from the penalty spot.

And that proved costly as Danny Graham’s header and Whichelow’s strike gave the on-song Hornets a win which moved them into the top six.