Aston Villa 2 - 2 QPR: Alex McLeish’s men fight back to thwart QPR

Cisse scored a stunning debut goal and then Villa defender Stephen Warnock’s own goal doubled their lead. But Darren Bent gave the home side a lifeline before half-time with his 100th Premier League goal before N’Zogbia equalised.

“We showed a lot of resilience again to come back but I was not pleased with the first-half performance,” said McLeish. “The goals were a joke but we were pedestrian, there was no imagination or creation. The goal just before half-time gave us an injection and during the break we demanded that we played with a much greater tempo.

“We need to see that for 90 minutes in games.”

Cisse needed only 12 minutes to make an impact for his new club after his move from Lazio had only received final clearance 90 minutes before kick-off.

There was an element of luck about the build-up with Shaun Wright-Phillips scuffing his shot into the path of Cisse. But the finish was clinical as the Frenchman drilled a low shot across Shay Given into the far corner of the net before celebrating with a trademark somersault.

Villa tried to retaliate and Ciaran Clark shot just wide after a neat chip from Robbie Keane while QPR keeper Paddy Kenny clung onto a low Bent drive.

But, after 29 minutes, an own goal from left-back Warnock doubled QPR’s lead. There seemed little danger when Taye Taiwo delivered a deep cross but Warnock inexplicably headed the ball back across Given into the far corner of the net.

The home side came close to reducing the arrears when Kenny turned away a Richard Dunne header from a Stiliyan Petrov centre. Keane was unfortunate when his shot deflected off Petrov and struck the woodwork with Kenny well beaten.

Bent got up well to direct a header past the post from an Alan Hutton centre before reducing the arrears with his 100th Premier League goal in injury time. Keane played in Hutton and, in typically predatory fashion, Bent was in position to convert from close range.

Villa started the second half on the attack and their former player, Luke Young, was booked for bringing down N’Zogbia.

Kenny was again tested to deny Keane away to his left after being found in space by Stephen Ireland. But Jamie Mackie completely miskicked with the goal at his mercy from a low Wright-Phillips cross. After 79 minutes N’Zogbia brought Villa level with his first goal since his £9 million summer move from Wigan.

Petrov supplied the left wing cross and N’Zogbia volleyed his left-footed drive past Kenny.

QPR manager Mark Hughes said: “I thought Cisse was excellent and everyone can understand now why I wanted to bring him to the club. We only got clearance for him to play as I was walking into the entrance at Villa Park when a text came through. He is going to be vital for us. He was bright, intelligent and powerful.”

Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock, Ireland, Petrov, Clark, N’Zogbia, Keane, Bent. Subs: Guzan, Heskey, Bannan, Weimann, Lichaj, Baker, Gardner.

Queens Park Rangers: Kenny, Young, Ferdinand, Onuoha, Taiwo, Wright-Phillips, Barton, Derry, Mackie, Hulse, Cisse. Subs: Cerny, Hill, Hall, Smith, Ephraim, Macheda, Balanta.

Attendance: 32,063

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)