UNTIL Idrissa Sylla rained on Wanderers’ parade, this had been a pleasant hark back to last season’s gritty League One promotion pursuit.

The storm persisted, gales blew, crosses were hacked clear and every sliding challenge produced a satisfying spray as the puddles grew deeper.

Had Phil Parkinson’s side held on to the lead supplied by Darren Pratley midway through the first half we would have been celebrating a resolute defensive performance, one which echoed the very best of last year. Instead, many drenched Wanderers fans trudged back out into the elements asking why their team had suddenly stopped in their tracks, dropping two points in the process.

Questions have been asked of the Whites’ back line this season, and whether they can handle the step up in class. Up until a month-or-so ago, it was hard to make a case for the defence.

Ultra-reliable types like Mark Beevers and Andy Taylor had gone off the boil and after setting new records for clean sheets in his first season in charge, Phil Parkinson’s side was leaking goals like a sieve.

Thankfully, somewhere between defeats at Bristol City and Aston Villa – and coinciding with the arrival of Karl Henry – things have improved, and Saturday was the most convincing defensive performance yet this campaign.

Beevers was excellent, if eclipsed by a truly colossal performance from his centre-back partner David Wheater, having one of those games which makes you wonder how he isn’t still playing Premier League football.

QPR’s website had taken the bold step to highlight the former Middlesbrough man’s lack of pace in the build-up but experience ensured he was in the right place at the right time on almost every occasion he was called upon at the Macron.

Due credit to Taylor – last season’s unsung hero – and new arrival Mark Little, who put in some of the meatiest challenges the slick pitch demanded.

There was an element of fortune about the way QPR drew level – Luke Freeman’s lofted ball somehow flicked inside the post – but then Sylla always did like popping up with a surprise on a Saturday evening.

In fairness, Wanderers only had themselves to blame. The second half had descended into a game of attack versus defence with Gary Madine reduced to an auxiliary centre-back helping out to hack away long throws and corners.

Neither Sammy Ameobi nor Josh Vela got close to the kind of levels they had shown against Sheffield Wednesday a week earlier and while Adam Armstrong’s work-rate was phenomenal, he struggled to make a real dent in the game.

By the time Parkinson looked to change it up, bringing on Craig Noone and Filipe Morais, the rear-guard action had become so pronounced they hardly touched the ball in QPR’s half.

In fact, QPR's goal came from the fact Noone was clearing aimlessly towards Madine - marooned on half-way - gifting possession to the visitors.

Much as he enjoyed denying it after the final whistle, Ian Holloway had come under a bit of pressure after the Hoops had gone six games without a win with some reports suggesting defeat at the Macron could signal the end of his second spell with the West London club.

Credit is due, then, that Holloway forced the issue with a number of brave changes which shaped the game in his side’s favour.

Wanderers led at half time after Pratley netted his first goal since January 2016, and just about deserved to do so.

They should have doubled the lead when Wheater showed his game was not all about headers and blocks, producing a fine reverse ball to send Vela through on goal. Alex Smithies stood up well to block the midfielder’s shot at his near post.

Alnwick was also in good form at the other end. Conditions were a nightmare for keepers but his handling was good and a fine reaction stop at close range from Sylla with 20 minutes to go had you thinking this might be Wanderers’ day.

He could do nothing about the equaliser, nor could Wheater. On a less sodden pitch Sylla’s flick would probably not have hit the target but greater analysis of the build up shows Wanderers were their own worst enemy.

The final 10 minutes proved to be a damp squib, even with the late, late introduction of Adam Le Fondre. QPR didn’t fancy a winner and Wanderers had long-since run out of ideas in attack.

The over-riding emotion at the final whistle was one of disappointment, as this game had been ear-marked by many as a ‘must win’. Whether that is necessarily fair is debatable.

The gap to safety is a point closer after Birmingham’s defeat at Millwall, and there was a lot to admire about the passion with which Wanderers defended their lead.

Karl Henry and Darren Pratley continue to look a handy partnership in the middle of midfield and keeper Alnwick’s form in the last two games shows why Parkinson was right to put him straight back into the mix after a neck injury.

Yet those grey clouds are hard to shift. Did Parkinson need to be braver with his substitutions and give QPR something else to think about in the second half? Have Wanderers got enough guile or potency in their attack to make a difference when the going gets tough?

There is no question things seem rosier than they did a month ago at the Macron, you only hope they still look that way when we return after trips to Fulham and Sunderland.