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Neither QPR or Chelsea were able to break the deadlock during a combative first half of today's FA Cup fourth round tie.

Much of the build-up surrounded John Terry and Anton Ferdinand, who was spared having to shake the Chelsea skipper's hand after the Football Association gave permission to scrap the traditional pre-match ritual.

Terry was taunted throughout at Loftus Road but seemed unaffected by the abuse in a first half the visitors edged, although Juan Mata was the only man to force Paddy Kenny into a save.

Ferdinand and Terry both started the game.

The match represents the first time the duo have faced each other since allegations were made that the Chelsea captain used a racist slur against Ferdinand during October's Barclays Premier League match at Loftus Road.

Terry has since been charged with racially abusing QPR defender Ferdinand and is expected to enter a not guilty plea at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, having strenuously denied the charge against him.

QPR manager Mark Hughes has always insisted he has no qualms about playing Ferdinand and, despite reportedly being sent a bullet in the post yesterday, he started at Loftus Road.

Hughes made one change, drafting in Tommy Smith for DJ Campbell, while counterpart Andre Villas-Boas brought in Florent Malouda and Branislav Ivanovic.

Despite both clubs' best efforts to calm fans, there was a tense atmosphere inside Loftus Road as kick-off edged closer.

In a bid to dilute the tension the Football Association gave permission for the teams not to partake in the traditional pre-match handshake, amid uncertainty as to whether Rangers defender Ferdinand would snub Terry.

The match itself began tentatively with Terry's every touch of the ball met by boos from the home fans.

Both sides struggled to maintain possession during the opening exchanges and looked sloppy, epitomised by a wildly-struck Daniel Sturridge effort from 30 yards.

The first real chance came in the 12th minute when Mata capitalised on a Luke Young slip to break forward and force Kenny to parry, which could have been headed home by Ramires if Young had not been alert to block.

QPR began to settle after the effort and had their first chance of the match through captain Joey Barton, although his looping 25-yard volley was weak and wide.

While then hosts were pushing for an opening, Chelsea were looking the more dangerous of the sides as David Luiz attempted an overhead kick and Malouda saw several dangerous crosses thwarted.

The tackles began to fly in as the first period wore on and former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips picked up the game's first booking for scything down Raul Meireles in the 29th minute.

Villas-Boas' side were beginning to dominate the play and Ashley Cole almost found Sturridge with a wedged ball to the far post.

Minutes later Meireles came close for the Blues after teeing himself up before volleying just over from 25 yards.

Wright-Phillips miscued a shot at the other end before Chelsea returned to the attack, with Ramires firing a dangerous-looking cross over after a exquisite back heel by Mata.

HT: QPR 0 Chelsea 0

QPR brought on Federico Macheda for Heidar Helguson at half-time, but it was Chelsea that started the stronger.

There seemed a new intensity about the Blues and, after Fitz Hall was booked for handling the ball, Sturridge saw a shot from the resulting free-kick blocked.

The Blues were in the ascendancy and Fernando Torres led QPR defenders a merry dance down the left before cutting the ball back to Sturridge, who saw a well-struck effort flash just over.

Luiz blazed an audacious 40-yard shot wide as Chelsea continued to press, before Sturridge saw calls for a penalty turned down after claiming he was upended by Clint Hill in the box.

The volume was steadily rising in Shepherds Bush and the home fans were inches away from celebrating the opening goal.

Wright-Phillips showed great skill to find space and fire a shot that Petr Cech could only parry across the face of the goal, although Jamie Mackie could not quite make contact to divert the ball home.

QPR paid immediately as Chelsea broke forward and were awarded a soft-looking penalty after Sturridge and Hill collided in the box.

Despite the left-back's protestations, referee Mike Dean awarded the spot-kick and Mata stepped up to send Kenny the wrong way in front of the 3,114 visiting fans.