QPR are still searching for their first Premier League victory of the season after coming from behind to earn a point against Aston Villa at Loftus Road.

Rangers had shown signs of improvement in Harry Redknapp's first game in charge against Sunderland on Tuesday evening, leaving Wearside with a point following a goalless draw, and his home debut brought about a similar outcome.

Villa are also steadily progressing under Paul Lambert's guide and extended their unbeaten run to three games in West London to move two points above the bottom three.

They did it without Darren Bent once again with the striker promoted to the substitutes bench after being left out of the squad completely for the trip to his former club.

A boisterous reception greeted Redknapp's arrival in the dugout and it was expected such positivity would be mirrored on the pitch, but the home side were left dumbstruck when Brett Holman fired the ball past Rob Green from 25 yards to give Villa the lead after only eight minutes.

That seemed to snap the hosts into their rhythm and an equaliser was procured in the 18th minute. Jamie Mackie, who scored at Old Trafford last week, did brilliantly to evade his marker and meet Samba Diakite's cross to power a header past Brad Guzaan.

They came close to a second when Shaun Wright-Phillips, brought in from the wilderness by Redknapp, forced Guzan into a save after racing clear of the away defence before clattering the post as the ball spun clear.

Rangers lost Stephane Mbia just before the break after he was knocked out in a clash with Gabriel Agbonlahor. Both teams strived to find that moment of magic that would bright a winning goal.

And Villa were indebted to Guzan for stopping Ryan Nelson, Diakite and Park Ji Sung from finding the net as Rangers remained rooted to the foot of the table.