Queens Park Rangers vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Final Score 0-0, Spurs and Rs play out awful stalemate

Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur both drew blanks as they played out a dull 0-0 draw at Loftus Road in the Premier League's early kick-off.

Despite the two squads featuring the talents of Esteban Granero, Gareth Bale, Alejandro Faurlin, Adel Taarabt, Moussa Dembele, Jermain Defoe and plenty more, a rather negative team selection from Harry Redknapp gave the indication that his side would set out to frustrate and contain Tottenham, which they managed to do with worrying ease.

It could have been different as Tottenham began the game by immediately putting the home side under pressure, with Jermain Defoe's long-range effort crashing off the post and Emmanuel Adebayor given the freedom of the penalty area to follow up the rebound, but Julio Cesar made a spectacular save to keep the scores level.

Spurs were dealt a blow midway through the first half as Sandro limped off injured, with Scott Parker coming on to replace him. Save for a wayward 35-yard effort, his introduction did little to improve the urgency of Spurs' attacking play.

With Moussa Dembele and Emmanuel Adebayor both having desperately poor games and Michael Dawson looking ponderous in possession, it seemed likely that Villas-Boas would make changes at half-time, but none were made an the game continued in much the same pattern. Jermain Defoe almost broke the deadlock soon after the second half kicked off after his low shot squirmed through a packed penalty area, but Julio Cesar pulled off another great reflex save.

Despite the introductions of Clint Dempsey and Gylfi Sigurdsson, Spurs were still unable to force the issue and struggled for fluency in their play, QPR eventually holding on for an ugly point. It was a game that will not be looked back on with any fondness by either set of supporters, although the Rs will be the happier of the two sides with the point. Spurs showed a characteristic inability to break teams down which they have displayed too often this season - Villas-Boas must find a plan B for his team.