Newcastle 1-1 QPR

Ben Watson insists QPR must be considered as serious promotion candidates after they pushed table toppers Newcastle close last night.

The on-loan midfielder scored for the second straight game and keeper Radek Cerny saved a penalty as Jim Magilton's men stretched their unbeaten League run to six games.

Rangers were backed by almost 2,000 travelling fans as they came close to earning their first victory on Tyneside in 15 years.

Despite being pegged back by a late equaliser from former West Ham striker Marlon Harewood, Watson is convinced Magilton's side are showing the kind of sustained form that marks them out as strong contenders to make it into the Premier League in May.

He said: "We controlled the game for long periods and that's something we have to be encouraged about.

"If you look at it, not many teams are going to come to Newcastle this season and get a point so we have to be pleased by that and it's put down a marker for us."

Watson gave Rangers an ideal start, pouncing on a mistake from defender Jose Enrique to fire the visitors ahead from the edge of the area after seven minutes.

Damion Stewart was harshly judged to have handled Steven Taylor's shot to present Newcastle with an opportunity to level from the spot. But the impressive Cerny dived to his right to save Danny Guthrie's tame effort.

Watson added: "We hit the ground running, started the game well and got the early goal so really the lads are disappointed with only a point in the end.

"I'm delighted to score a couple of goals in the last two games and hopefully there's more to come."

Stewart went close with a second-half header, while striker Jay Simpson saw an effort cleared off the line as Rangers pressed for a second goal.

Watson insists it's an indication of how far Rangers have come that they're disappointed with a point and he's challenging his team-mates to reproduce that kind of performance on a regular basis.

He added: "Newcastle are top of the League for a reason. But everyone here has seen we've matched them all over the pitch.

"We've got to do that week-in, week-out. We've played really well and were unlucky not to get all three points but now we've got to continue that form in our next match."

Magilton paid tribute to his troops for standing up to the unique challenge provided by a trip to St James' Park, where Newcastle had won all their five previous games this season.

He said: "To perform like that's very pleasing and I'm proud of the boys. On our day we're capable of matching any team in our division."