QPR defender Richard Dunne plays 81 minutes in 3-3 draw against Millwall Under-21s

Dunne makes his first appearance in eight weeks following knee injury

Jake Mulraney, Ryan Manning and Brandon Comley on target for young QPR side

DEFENDER Richard Dunne came through 81 minutes of QPR Under-21s 3-3 draw with Millwall on Tuesday afternoon.





The 35-year-old centre back was returning to action for the first time since suffering medial ligament damage in his knee following Rangers Premier League defeat against Southampton on 7th February.





And Dunne played his part at the Championship sides training ground as an injury time equaliser for the Lions snatched a draw.





It was QPR who started brighter of the two sides as striker Ben Pattie squandered a chance to put the visitors ahead when he steered Jordan Gibbons right wing cross over the crossbar from 8-yards.





That proved a wasteful opportunity for Steve Gallen’s young R’s side as Millwall took advantage and edged in front in the 18th minute courtesy of a defensive mix-up. QPR keeper Joe Lumley dwelled on a back pass and Kris Twardek nipped in to finish from close range.









EQUALISER: Jake Mulraney pulls QPR level in the first half





Despite the setback QPR grew into the match and were soon level when Jake Mulraney raced through on Ryan Manning’s inch perfect ball over the top to lob Millwall keeper Tom King in the 33rd minute.





Lumley then atoned for his earlier mistake to make a point blank save from Millwall skipper Jack Powell, before QPR went ahead with the final chance of the first half.





Good work down the right flank from Olamide Shodipo saw him pick out Manning who - with his back to goal – unleashed an unstoppable overhead kick to put Gallen’s side 2-1 up.







2-1: Ryan Manning puts QPR Under-21s ahead with an overhead kick





Rangers picked up where they left off after half-time with Pattie again going close after Mulraney’s cross from the left picked him out but his header from 8-yards was again over the bar.





Shodipo then shot wide of the post from the edge of the area before Manning went close to adding his second of the afternoon with a side footed effort from distance.





However, despite the R’s sustained pressure it was the hosts who scored next against the run of play as Powell turned Kyron Farrell’s cross past Lumley from close range with 18 minutes remaining.





QPR then had Lumley to thank again for keeping them in the match as his finger tip save pushed Farrell’s 20-yard free-kick against the crossbar shortly before Dunne’s afternoon was complete, making way for Jack Williams.









WINNER? Brandon Comley thought his strike had won the match for QPR





That was the signal for one final push for a winner however and the R’s looked to have got it when two minutes from time a neat one-two played Brandon Comley in on goal and the midfielder made no mistake finishing in the bottom far corner to make it 3-2.





With just injury time remaining QPR looked to have the match sewn up all but until Millwall’s Jamie Philpott scored with the final kick of the match for the Lions to grab a late equaliser.





QPR’s Under-21 side host Crystal Palace next Tuesday at Harlington in their final Professional Development League Two South fixture of the season.





QPR U21s: Lumley, Gibbons, Kakay, Comley, Dunne (Williams 81), Haran (Donaldson 46), Shodipo, Hamalainen, Pattie, Manning (Corkery 74), Mulraney.





Subs not used: Lennox.





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