QPR boss Neil Warnock feels their draw with FA Cup opponents MK Dons could be a turning point in their season.

Striker Heidar Helguson came off the bench to score an equaliser in the 89th minute while QPR were down to 10 men after Alejandro Faurlin had been taken off on a stretcher with Warnock having used his three substitutes.

The 1-1 draw means the teams meet again in a replay at Loftus Road on January 19, which allows suspended captain Joey Barton to serve another game of his three-match ban.

He will now be eligible to return against Wigan, missing just one more Premier League game against Newcastle next Sunday.

Warnock said: "All credit to the boys, they kept going and I am delighted to be in the hat, especially as it means captain Joey will be back for the Wigan game, which is more important really.

"People talk about did we want a replay, well yeah we did. At 1-0 down with 10 men and going into the last few minutes it's a great result for us. It could be the turning point of the season.

"You need a bit of luck in the FA Cup, all the big teams do. The early rounds in the FA Cup are the most difficult from what I've been involved with.

"It was a glue-pot of a pitch and we came out a lot more positive in the second half. We had a couple of great chances. If we had gone in front we would have won the game."