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Emmanuel Ledesma, sent off six minutes into the second half yesterday, can count himself fortunate that he’d built up plenty of credit this season prior to yesterday’s draw at Ashton Gate. Sharing the spoils with last season’s playoff finalists could be interpreted as a valuable point accrued, but had the Argentine stayed on the pitch Queens Park Rangers may well have taken all three points.

Ledesma scored a hat-trick against Carlisle in the Carling Cup on Tuesday and the 20-year-old playmaker was a class apart again in the first-half, running rings around Bristol City’s defenders. The Genoa loanee was booked for dissent just before half-time when challenging a throw-in decision and again after a crude lunge on Jamie McAllister on 52 minutes. Perhaps it was a product of over-exuberance in the week in which the QPR club shop celebrated his undoubted talent by printing 500 Ledesma T-shirts. “It was a lesson for Emmanuel,” said manager Iain Dowie, “But the referee gave himself a problem with the first booking, which I felt was very harsh.”

QPR had played the better football prior to the red card, taking the lead in the 18th minute when Mikele Leigertwood split City’s defence with a hopeful through-ball that Dexter Blackwood made significant with his acceleration. The former England Under-21 international saw his first attempt blocked by Adriano Basso. The Brazilian goalkeeper should have cleared the danger but allowed Dexter Blackstock a second chance. Falling onto his backside, the forward managed to hook the ball over his own shoulder and score at the second opportunity.

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Dele Adebola, who tormented Coventry in Bristol City’s rout at the Ricoh Arena last week, was City’s best player again yesterday and was in the right place at the right time to equalise for the Robins against the run of play seven minutes later, firing home from a diagonally flighted cross from left winger Brian Wilson.

Dowie’s side continued playing the more attractive football with the skilful Lee Cook and the occasionally inspired Real Madrid loanee Daniel Parejo pulling the strings. The two almost combined to give Rangers the lead just before the break but Cook’s delicate effort was saved smartly by Basso.

The dismissal altered QPR’s priorities and City boss Gary Johnson claimed it might even have hindered his own side’s chances of collecting maximum points. “With the benefit of hindsight I’d have rathered Ledesma hadn’t have been sent off,” Johnson said, “If he’d stayed on QPR would have continued to try and win the game.”

City’s attempts at a winner were restricted to one firm low header from Adebola that Radek Cerny saved expertly. Johnson will hope that new striker John Akinte, who will complete his £140,000 transfer from Ebbsfleet tomorrow, will give City more options up front.

Star man: Matt Connolly (QPR)

Yellow cards: Bristol City: Orr, Sproule. QPR: Cook, Rowlands, Blackstock, Ledesma.

Red Card: QPR: Ledesma

Referee: D Deadman

Attendance: 17,543

Bristol City: Basso 6, Orr 6, Fontaine 6, Carey 7, McAllister 5 (Webster 55min, 5), Wilson 6 (Sproule 77min), Skuse 5 (Williams 56min, 7), Johnson 6, McIndoe 7, Maynard 5, Adebola 7

QPR: Cerny 7, Ramage 6, Stewart 6, Connolly 7, Delaney 7, Parejo 7 (Agyemang 76min), Leigertwood 6, Mahon 5, Cook 7 (Rowlands 54min, 6), Blackstock 7, Ledesma 7.