The unbeaten start, the 413 fans, the railway strike and the express train that is Chiedozie Ogbene ... the story of QPR 1 Rotherham United 1

Rotherham United home and away shirts were splashed around the School End at Loftus Road as fans rose to applaud another effort from their team that had shown the Millers mean business in the Championship this season.

This wasn't the usual mass of support - a railworkers' strike halting train travel into and out of London had restricted the numbers - but 413 hardy souls were making the usual noise.

So what that there were too many empty QPR-blue seats among them? Their team, everyone's tip for relegation, were now four games unbeaten at the start of the season and in 12th place.

Having led the away-day defiance against opponents who are so dangerous on their own turf, captain Richard Wood led proceedings at the final whistle.

He saluted the red and the yellow. Defensive partner Grant Hall had loved ones there and was waving to them. Chieo had scored again and was smiling big Chieo smiles. Somewhere amid it all was Wes Harding's family enjoying themselves as much and as loudly as anyone.

Just like at Preston North End four days earlier, the result hadn't come easily.  Rotherham had had to scrap for their share of the spoils, particularly in the second half when Rangers threw everything at the win.

It was a good, strong performance, a good, strong away point, the kind of which the promoted Millers haven't always managed to secure at this level in the past.

"QPR are a great home side on a tight pitch," said manager Paul Warne. "I don't enjoy coming here."

The 413 would beg to differ.

THE MATCH

Another game, another Chiedozie Ogbene goal.

The winger is no longer a winger; he's a striker and has struck four times in five outings in league and cup since opening day.

Both teams defied the Saturday heat in a frenetic encounter in which QPR attacked Rotherham, Rotherham attacked QPR and so on except for a period after the break when it was just QPR attacking Rotherham.

Ogbene's pace and persistence won a free-kick after the half-hour mark, Shane Ferguson delivered the ball to Cameron Humphreys at the back post and Chieo slotted home the header-back at the second attempt.

Humphreys, so assured in possession in defence, had played some of the passes of the match until, with the interval approaching, he inexplicably hit one straight to Chris Willock who gratefully ran in on goal and, after a one-two with Ilias Chair, shot past Viktor Johansson.

"We had pockets of the game where we stretched them and got in behind them loads of times down the sides," Warne said. "To take the lead was a right 'Brucie Bonus'. It was a poor for their goal how we needlessly gave the ball away. That was disappointing.

Chieo Ogbene on the run for the Millers

"I thought we might get one on the counter but, in fairness, every time we countered them they then countered us.

"In the second half,  you could see both sets of players were hanging on trying to find oxygen out there. It was hot, it was intense. In the first 20 minutes I don't think the ball went out of play much more than once."

Johansson saved crucially from Lyndon Dikes on the stroke of half-time to set up a second-half showdown dominated by two men.

Chair has QPR followers out of their seats with some of his beguiling build-up play while for Rotherham a familiar figure was wreaking havoc.

The trains might not have been running but Ogbene certainly was: down the left, down the right, through the middle, a high-speed bullet scorching past opponents at the equivalent rate of Doncaster to Kings Cross in ten minutes.

"QPR have got pace to burn in their team, as have we in certain areas," Warne said. "It was an open game.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the lads' physical data because they gave everything they had. Back-to-back points away from home is good in any league, even more so in this one.

"I was proud of the players' resilience and togetherness. They are going to need that during the season.

"We took our best chance. On another day, we might have take one or two more of our others. There are no complaints from me. I think of the two managers I'll be the happiest."

After the break, Johansson had to get down quickly to hold on to a low effort from Ethan Laird, Chair slipped as he tried to turn in Sinclair Armstrong's cross, Armstrong should have scored but shot straight at Rotherham's relieved goalkeeper and Ethan Laird fired over.

In a late Rotherham breakout, inspired inevitably by Ogbene, Georgie Kelly had a sight of goal but his effort lacked the power to worry keeper Seny Dieng.

By the end, QPR had racked up 17 goal attempts to the Millers' six.

"In parts of games, I think we're playing the best football we've ever played," Warne said. "In other parts, the opposition are running wild. That's what this league is like."

STANDING FIRM

Despite their pushing and probing, Rangers could find no way through as the clock ticked down.

Late concessions have blighted Rotherham's past second-tier campaigns but there's an impressive solidity and a calm refusal to panic about them this term.

They have yet to concede in the second half in any league match and experienced additions have given them a Championship 'feel' they have previously lacked.

"'Waking up on Sunday morning with a 'D' against your name is better than waking up with an 'L'," Warne said. "John Breckin always tells me that and he's right."

Meanwhile, midfielder Dan Barlaser took his turn at media duties after his manager and was full of praise for the travelling faithful.

"The support was fantastic," he said. "One fan came came to the training ground the other day and said he was driving down. Fair play to anyone who did that. 'Safe journey back' to them."

The 413 decanted from the stadium to their cars, to their coaches, happy to be to Millers, happy with the Millers.

No trains, but their team very much on track.

QPR (3-2-4-1): Seny Dieng; Rob Dickie, Jimmy Dunne, Kenneth Paal; Stefan Johansen (Andre Dozzell 56), Sam Field; Ethan Laird, Tyler Roberts (Albert Adomah 70), Ilias Chair, Chris Willock (Olamide Shodipo 82); Lyndon Dykes (Sinclair Armstrong 70). Subs not used: Jordan Archer, Osman Kakay, Niko Hamalainen.

Rotherham (3-5-2): Viktor Johansson; Grant Hall, Richard Wood, Cameron Humphreys; Lee Peltier (Wes Harding 56), Ben Wiles, Dan Barlaser (Jamie Lindsay 86), Ollie Rathbone (Scott High 65), Shane Ferguson (Cohen Bramall 56); Chiedozie Ogbene, Conor Washington (Georgie Kelly 65). Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Tom Eaves.

Goals: Ogbene 33 (Rotherham); Willock 43 (QPR).

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

Attendance: 12,230 (413).