Barker makes his point

23 March 2010 22:49
Shaun Barker rescued a point for Derby as QPR and the Rams eased another notch clear of the relegation zone following a 1-1 draw. Forgotten man Lee Cook, making a rare start for Rangers, had fired Neil Warnock's side into the lead in first-half stoppage time with his first goal since Boxing Day 2008. But centre-half Barker finished more like a striker after the break to peg the hosts back with his fourth goal of the season. Rangers came agonisingly close to snatching the win when Rowan Vine rattled the woodwork late on, but County escaped with a valuable point. Both these teams will not be sorry to see the back of disappointing seasons but they are making heavy weather of dragging themselves clear of the bottom three - Rangers have not won in four and Derby in five. Nigel Clough will not be relaxing just yet but his Rams side now have a handy six-point cushion while QPR lie a point and a place better off. Rangers had the better chances to win it with Adel Taarabt and Alejandro Faurlin both firing narrowly wide, before Vine crashed his shot against the crossbar with five minutes remaining.

Source: PA