TOOTHLESS Cherries were unable to notch their third successive victory after playing out a goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers.

Having not played in more than two weeks, Cherries looked rusty and were indebted to goalkeeper Asmir Begovic for being level at half-time.

Dominic Solanke came closest for the hosts, but neither of his efforts were on target as the game petered out at Vitality Stadium.

Cherries remain unbeaten in the Championship, with three wins and two draws.

Jason Tindall named an unchanged XI from the side which won against Coventry City just before the international break.

That meant fit-again duo Arnaut Danjuma and Junior Stanislas had to settle for spots on the bench, where they were joined by new signing Rodrigo Riquelme.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, who joined Cherries on loan from Tottenham yesterday, was not registered in time for feature. There was also no sign of either David Brooks or Joshua King among the matchday squad.

Despite naming the same side that saw off the Sky Blues, Cherries struggled to repeat that impressive display in the early stages of this contest.

QPR made the stronger start and almost took the lead inside three minutes when dangerous winger Bright Osayi-Samuel cut in from the right and fired low towards the bottom corner, but Begovic got down well to parry behind.

Cherries’ attempts at playing out from the back were thwarted by QPR’s high press, forcing the hosts to go long. But they were unable to keep hold of the ball as Mark Warburton’s side remained on the front foot.

A scrappy contest was lacking in quality at either end of the pitch, with Begovic the standout performer for Cherries during the first half.

The Bosnian had to be alert again on 26 minutes. After Lewis Cook conceded possession, Luke Amos gathered the loose ball and teed up Macauley Bonne, who was denied one-on-one by the foot of the goalkeeper.

Cherries finally created their first opening shortly after when a searching ball from Chris Mepham found Solanke, who fired the bouncing ball just wide of the far post.

Tindall resisted the urge to make any changes at the break, but almost saw his side fall behind soon after the restart when a cross from Osman Kakay found Osayi-Samuel in the box, but his powerful strike crashed into the side netting.

But the boss did not wait much longer, introducing Danjuma in place of Sam Surridge on the hour mark.

There was also a tactical tweak with Jack Stacey and Adam Smith swapping flanks, and that almost paid immediate dividends. From the right, Smith picked out Dan Gosling, whose shot from the edge of the box was well blocked.

QPR then turned to their bench, introducing Albert Adomah, who almost had an instant chance, only for Diego Rico to produce a vital interception.

Cherries were starting to threaten more themselves with Stacey standing up a cross for Solanke, who headed wide as the stalemate approached the final 20 minutes.

Stanislas was the next to be introduced off the bench, coming on for his first appearance since the opening day of the season after injury. Jefferson Lerma was the man to be replaced.

But the change could not help Cherries to create any late chances as the score stayed locked at 0-0 with the spoils shared.

Cherries: Begovic; Mepham, S Cook, Rico; Stacey, Lerma (Stanislas, 76), L Cook, Gosling, Smith; Surridge (Danjuma, 61), Solanke.

Unused subs: Simpson, Zemura, Ofoborh, Riquelme, Travers (g/k).

Booked: Rico.

QPR: Dieng; Kakay, Dickie, Barbet, Wallace; Cameron, Ball; Osayi-Samuel (Adomah, 67), Chair (Willock, 83), Amos (Carroll, 72); Bonne.

Unused subs: Kane, Masterson, Bettache, Kelly (g/k)

Booked: Kakay, Osayi-Samuel, Chair.

Referee: John Brooks.