Queens Park Rangers' quality side finally turned up, delivering a strong performance to earn a draw at Swansea Tuesday.

The free flowing match featured plenty of fireworks to entertain the noisy Welsh fans, including a skillful - if questionable - goal by Swansea's Danny Graham and a fantastic effort from Jamie Mackie at the other end to put the Hoops level.

Their defence remains a liability, but QPR's attackers showed more energy and determination in this contest than they have in weeks. The strong play of Swans keeper Michel Vorm held the R's in check despite the aggressive work by Adel Taraabt, Heidar Helguson and Mackie. The Swan's stubborn defending and strong counterattack kept the score even, but QPR finally played to their capability, which should bolster the supporters confidence heading into the new year.

Work remains to be done and with the calendar about to flip, expect to see the scaffolding go up over the defence. The injury to Anton Ferdinand notwithstanding, the R's lack depth and quality in the squad and are frequently forced to push Fitz Hall or Matthew Connolly into the lineup. The results are plain to see; they struggle with the pace and skill of players at this level and put Paddy Kenny in impossible situations. QPR defenders have been featuring in other team's highlights too often lately, whether it was Sessengnon bursting at the goal for Sunderland while Gabbidon and Connolly scrambled helplessly back at him, or watching Danny Graham dance around Fitz Hall and Luke Young to set up the screen and curl a superb strike into the net this week. The arguable handball Graham used to control may have had R's fans shouting, but the soft defending is what got me out of the chair. Its a recurring and aggravating theme - QPR defenders giving too much credit and far too much leniency to opposing strikers.

Take a look back at the Liverpool match, or Manchester United's visit to Loftus Road, and you'll find plenty of tense moments where the defending amounted to little more than sitting back and waiting for the bad men to stop hitting them. There are always some good moments to counterbalance my cynicism - Gabbidon's had his share of last-minute disruptions to negate a charging threat - but far too many soft set-ups and limp challenges have given the opposition confidence to test them time and again. With Armand Traore picked to represent his nation in the African Cup early next year, the R's will be without one of their best assets in the back line, and between injuries and incompetence, need desperately to bring in a couple of defenders. There's plenty of tabloid speculation that they'll go hard for Blackburn's Chris Samba, who would be a great addition in the centre if he can be lured away. Whomever they pursue, it is clear the most pressing need is for stronger defenders in the middle, who can push the anointed starters to either earn their place or step aside.

Three points would have been more satisfying, but the R's did well at Swansea and played with more intensity and even a bit of creativity than they've shown recently. Joey Barton had a better game and eliminated some of the poor decision making that marred his last few outings. Ale Faurlin did well to gain possession and hassle the midfield, and Adel Taarabt showed flashes of the old star-in-the-making form that brought QPR up last season. He remains an enigma, and while he's likely gone in the next month, can give the offence the spark it desperately needs. After fighting their way back into the Sunderland match only to let it slip away at the death, it was a welcome sign to see the boys playing with renewed vigor. Now they have to continue that form - more urgency is needed with the schedule moving on and points getting harder to come by. The trip to the Emirates Saturday should be a good test of whether QPR can build off the momentum they started on the road and press Arsenal for at least a point. With all of the Gunners injuries and defensive woes, a win is a tall order, but one worth shooting for.

Until then, Come on U R'ssssss.

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