Lee Harper saved Paul Devlin's penalty - twice - to earn Rangers a draw against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Harper kept out Devlin's first effort after a penalty was awarded against Clarke Carlisle and did so again when the referee ordered that the kick be re-taken.

It meant Rangers left Yorkshire with the point they deserved for a determined performance in the second half, during which Sammy Koejoe scored a superbly taken equaliser. United went ahead when Shaun Murphy headed Devlin's 36th minute free-kick into the bottom right-hand corner of Harper's net.

Rangers had been warned - the defender had just failed to hit the target with a header at the far post as he attempted divert Lee Sandford's mis-hit shot towards goal. The home side's half-time lead was deserved as Michael Brown had fired against the outside of the post on 12 minutes and five minutes later, Harper had to produce a good save to keep out Devlin's header at full stretch after the United midfielder sneaked between Steve Morrow and Christer Warren to meet Brown's left-wing cross.

Rangers faded after a decent start, which saw Peter Crouch head over from Warren's corner while Carlisle's header from George Kulscar's cross also cleared the bar. But despite starting with three up front having thrown on a third striker in their last three matches, Rangers spent most of the first half defending and were fortunate not to go in at the break two behind after David Kelly headed against the bar from the edge of the six-yard area seconds before the half-time whistle.

Rangers under Gerry Francis have tended to concede early second-half goals as frequently as they have emerged from one of his dressing room rallies a completely different team. On this occasion it was the latter as Francis' 15 minutes triggered a dramatic improvement and within seven minutes of the restart, his side were level through Koejoe.

A couple of minutes beforehand, Koejoe delayed for too long when found unmarked in the area and saw his shot blocked by Murphy. But he made amends by then riding two challenges before placing the ball under goalkeeper Simon Tracey from seven yards.

Crouch was desperately unlucky not to give Rangers the lead when he sprinted towards the dge of the area and after throwing Murphy off balance with a smart step over the ball, saw his curling side-footed effort shave the post. United came back into it and struck the woodwork for the third time when Devlin headed Marcus Bent's cross against the bar in the 63rd minute.

A minute later, Devlin was handed a second and then, amazingly, a third chance to find the net when United were awarded a highly dubious penalty. Kelly bundled his way past Tim Breacker and in attempting to halt the veteran striker, Carlisle was adjudged to have handled the ball. Harper dived to his right to push out Devlin's driven spot-kick only for the referee to penalise encroachment into the area by Rangers players and hand Devlin an opportunity to redeem himself. Devlin opted for even more power but it still wasn't enough to beat Harper, who saved again.

"I told myself I was going to save the second penalty," said Harper afterwards. "It was an injustice becuase we felt aggrieved at the original decision to award a penalty for handball against Clarke. The referee awarded it because the linesman did but the ref was closer. Then he ordered it to be re-taken and I was determined to stop it. "It does fire you up and when I saved the first one I thought he would put it the same way again and he did. I think perhaps he thought I was thinking that he would go the other way. It was about mind games and I was really pleased to save it."

Devlin said: "I thought if I put it down the middle I'd score but I was obviously wrong. I always blast it and I've only missed three penalties. All credit to the lad for saving both of them. I'm obviously very disappointed."

Rangers still had much work to plough through in the driving rain and defended well, although they were grateful to see Bent shoot wide after Jermaine Darlington's poor defensive header.

For all QPR's heart and desire, as well as Harper's contribution, a point was ultimately secured courtesy of a terrible miss by Bent with two minutes remaining when from six yards out, the Hammersmith-born forward headed substitute John Newby's cross down only for it to bounce up off the ground and over the bar.