Shaun Barker's fourth goal of the season secured a valuable point for Derby County on their travels at Queens Park Rangers this evening.

The defender crashed home midway through the second half to cancel out Lee Cook's opener for Neil Warnock's side in 1st half injury time to make it a third successive draw for the Rams in the Championship.

Nigel Clough chose to recall skipper Robbie Savage to the Derby midfield at Loftus Road, with Rob Hulse making way to the bench.

That meant Chris Porter led the line alone, but with the creative influence of Michael Tonge playing just off the former Motherwell striker.

Derby had to contend with a barrage of early Rangers pressure and Stephen Bywater was forced into 3 fine stops.

His first save came on 6 minutes to turn away Jay Simpson's powerful low shot from inside the box.

Seconds later he was performing heroics once again, this time pushing away a stinging effort from Matthew Connolly after cutting inside from the left-hand side.

Bywater's next impressive stop came on the 15 minute mark diving full length to his left to push Faurlin's 35-yard drive away to safety as the early pressure continued in the driving rain from the home side.

After putting their bodies on the line and defending well as a team unit Derby grew in confidence and on the lush playing surface at Loftus Road and began to put the home side on the back foot.

Porter was inches away from meeting a dangerous cross from Gilles Sunu at the midway point of the half as Derby launched a spell of pressure on the QPR goal Ikeme made his first save a minute later to gather a looping header from Barker.

Savage tested Ikeme with a free-kick inside the 'D' on the half hour, but he wasn't able to repeat his goalscoring exploits as he did in this season's earlier meeting at Pride Park and the on-loan Wolves goalkeeper saved easily.

In first half injury time the deadlock was broken as Rangers hit Derby on the counter attack. A sweeping move resulted in the ball being moved out wide to Lee Cook in a one-on-one situation against Nicky Hunt and he crashed home a low drive from 18 yards beyond the helpless Bywater.

Clough made a change at the interval with Dean Leacock on for Gilles Sunu, with Nicky Hunt pushing further forwards to the right-hand side of midfield.

Chasing the equaliser Derby started the 2nd half brightly ad a corner from Tonge saw Ikeme spill the ball in the slippery conditions but Stewart hacked away on his own goal-line with Porter ready to pounce.

Derby made another attack-minded change on the hour, introducing Steven Davies into the game in place of Hunt on the right of midfield.

And Derby's persistence finally paid off on 67 minutes when up from the back Shaun Barker crashed home a well-taken equaliser.

A free-kick into the Rangers box wasn't dealt with sufficiently and Barker took full advantage by bringing the ball under control, steadying himself and then crashing a low shot past the motionless Ikeme to send the away fans in the lower tier behind the goal into raptures.

With their tails up, Derby weren't sitting back and content to hold out for a point and they continued to force the issue.

The home crowd were becoming increasingly frustrated with their side, playing right into Derby's hands as the final 15 minutes approached.

Inevitably the home side did put together a late spell of pressure which called for more heroic defending from Derby's defence, with Anderson and Barker both outstanding throughout.

Hulse came on for Porter with 8 minutes left to provide fresh legs in attack, but it was the home side who came closest to a winner with a few minutes left when Rowan Vine crashed a stunning volley off the crossbar.

With that Derby breathed a big sigh of relief because defeat for another battling away display would have been exceptionally harsh, especially after showing great spirit and determination to come back from a goal down away from home.