Confidence may be coursing through the QPR veins at the moment after the new arrivals turned in a fine performance on Monday night, but on Saturday the R’s travel to Wolves where they haven’t won since 1998/99.

Recent Meetings

Gareth Ainsworth was serving as caretaker manager for the second time in a matter of months at QPR when these sides last met at Molineux at the end of the 2008/09 season. Paulo Sousa had recently been sacked in controversial circumstances leaving Ainsworth to guide the team through to the end of the season with little to play for but pride. Wolves on the other hand needed points to get them over the line at the top of the table. Rangers have been ideal cannon fodder for such occasions in recent years and although Helguson and Vine (twice) went close to pooping the parties a poor piece of defensive play by Damion Stewart allowed Sylvain Ebanks Blake in for the only goal of the game.

Wolves: Hennessey 7, Foley 6, Craddock 8, Berra 7, Ward 6 (Stearman 79, 6), Edwards 7, Henry 7, Jones 6 (Vokes 65, 6), Jarvis 8, Ebanks-Blake 7 (Harewood 60, 6), Keogh 7

Subs Not Used: Higgs, Reid

Booked: Stephen Ward (foul)

Goals: Ebanks-Blake 46 (assisted Keogh)

QPR: Cerny 7, Ramage 6, Stewart 5, Gorkss 8, Connolly 7, Routledge 6, Lopez 7 (Leigertwood 85, -), Mahon 7, Cook 5 (Ephraim 63, 6), Vine 6 (Taarabt 63, 7), Helguson 5

Subs Not Used: Delaney, Miller

Booked: Lopez (repetitive fouling)

Sousa had still been in charge when the sides met earlier in the season at Loftus Road, and the 1-0 televised victory was probably the best performance of the Portuguese’s reign. Sousa had his tactic absolutely spot on, targeting Wolves’ talented but somewhat lightweight centre half pairing of Richard Stearman and Michael Mancienne with a physical front three of Dexter Blackstock, Patrick Agyemang and Heidar Helguson. Even though Blackstock was forced off injured in the first half QPR were good value for a 1-0 win secured by a fabulous strike from Martin Rowlands midway through the second half. For me though it was the performance of Patrick Agyemang rather than the goal that was the most memorable thing about this game – he gave Mancienne a torrid time in his best performance in a QPR shirt. He was almost unplayable that night, which makes his performances since even harder to fathom.

QPR: Cerny 8, Ramage 6, Stewart 9, Gorkss 9, Delaney 7, Ephraim 7, Mahon 7, Rowlands 8, Blackstock 6 (Cook 27, 6) (Di Carmine 90, -), Helguson 7 (Tommasi 77, 5), Agyemang 7

Subs Not Used: Cole, Borrowdale

Booked: Rowlands (foul)

Goals: Rowlands 63 (assisted Helguson)

Wolves: Hennessey 8, Foley 6, Stearman 5, Mancienne 5, Ward 6, Kightly 5, Edwards 6, Henry 6, Jones 6 (Jarvis 58, 7), Iwelumo 5 (Vokes 72, 6), Ebanks-Blake 5 (Keogh 78, 6)

Subs Not Used: Higgs, Collins

Booked: Mancienne (handball)

Previous Results

Head to Head >>> Wolves win 16 >>> Draws 15 >>> QPR wins 12

2008/09 QPR 1 Wolves 0 (Rowlands)

2007/08 Wolves 3 QPR 3 (Buzsaky, Blackstock, Leigertwood)

2007/08 QPR 0 Wolves 0

2006/07 Wolves 2 QPR 0

2006/07 QPR 0 Wolves 1

2005/06 QPR 0 Wolves 0

2005/06 Wolves 3 QPR 1 (Gallen)

2004/05 QPR 1 Wolves 1 (Gallen)

2004/05 Wolves 2 QPR 1 (Gallen)

2000/01 Wolves 1 QPR 1 (Bruce)

2000/01 QPR 2 Wolves 2 (Peacock 2)

1999/00 Wolves 3 QPR 2 (Peacock, Slade)

1999/00 QPR 1 Wolves 1 (Peacock)

1998/99 QPR 0 Wolves 1

1998/99 Wolves 1 QPR 2 (Sheron 2)

1997/98 QPR 0 Wolves 0

1997/98 Wolves 3 QPR 2 (Sheron, Peacock)

1997/98 Wolves 1 QPR 2 (Peacock, Murray)*

1997/98 QPR 0 Wolves 2*

1996/97 QPR 2 Wolves 2 (Peacock, Spencer)

1996/97 Wolves 1 QPR 1 (Dichio)

1983/84 QPR 2 Wolves 1 (Wicks, Gregory)

1983/84 Wolves 0 QPR 4 (C Allen, Gregory, Stainrod)

1982/83 QPR 2 Wolves 1 (Flanagan, Hazell)

1982/83 Wolves 4 QPR 0

1979/80 Wolves 1 QPR 0*

1979/80 QPR 1 Wolves 1* (C Allen)

1978/79 QPR 3 Wolves 3 (Roeder, Busby, Gillard)

1978/79 Wolves 1 QPR 0

1977/78 QPR 1 Wolves 3 (Shanks)

1977/78 Wolves 1 QPR 0

1975/76 QPR 4 Wolves 2 (Givens 2, Thomas, Francis)

1975/76 Wolves 2 QPR 2 (Givens 2)

1974/75 QPR 2 Wolves 0 (Givens, Thomas)

1974/75 Wolves 1 QPR 2 (Givens 2)

1973/74 QPR 0 Wolves 0

1973/74 Wolves 2 QPR 4 (Bowles 2, Leach, Francis)

1969/70 QPR 3 Wolves 1* (Clarke 2, Bridges)

1968/69 QPR 0 Wolves 1

1968/69 Wolves 3 QPR 1 (I Morgan)

1899/00 Wolves 0 QPR 1** (Bedingfield)

1899/00 QPR 1 Wolves 1** (Haywood)

* - League Cup

** - FA Cup

Connections

Bob Hazell >>> Wolves 1977-79, 1985 >>> QPR 1979-1983

Bob Hazell was a big, physical, uncompromising heart of the defence at Loftus Road in the early 1980s. Signed by Tommy Docherty in 1979 he went on to form a formidable centre half partnership with Steve Wicks, particularly during Terry Venables' reign in W12. He played at Wembley as a Second Division player for Rangers in the FA Cup final against Spurs, which we lost after a replay, and won promotion into the First Division with us a year later.

The R's, famed for their well drilled offside trap and plastic pitch in that promotion campaign, inexplicably lost 4-0 at Wolves on their way into the First Division which must have been particularly tough for Hazell who was a graduate of the youth set up at Molineux and had moved to Loftus Road from Wolves in 1979.

It was the semi final v West Brom at Highbury, rather than the final, that Hazell is probably best remembered for at Rangers. Against the Baggies' feared talisman Cyrille Regis Hazell turned in one of the all time great centre half performances and marked him out of the game in a 1-0 win. As a former Wolves man this should have been a sweet moment but Hazell was actually brought up as a Baggies fan and his only recollection of the game is Tony Currie coming to congratulate him after the final whistle.

In an interview with the Express and Star newspaper in 2008 Hazell said: “You will find this hard to believe but the truth is I can barely remember one or two incidents from that game. It was one of those matches where I concentrated so hard that even when the final whistle went I didn’t realise it was the end of the game. But, at that time, Cyrille was ripping up trees, he was really doing the business and I remember vividly the team meeting beforehand. Terry Venables looked at me at that meeting and said: ‘Bob, if you can look after Cyrille, we have got a good chance here.

“Although Cyrille and I were and are good friends that was my mission for the day. For the day? It felt like it was my life’s mission. And from the time we walked out on to the pitch to after the match had been finished, barely a couple of things have ever come back to me. I can remember the lead up to our goal although I can’t remember how the ball came in my direction. They showed it on TV last week but the clip was so short I still couldn’t remember how it got there."

Hazell, who was the first black player to ever score for Wolves, scored eight goals for Rangers, mostly from set pieces, but is also remembered for a headed own goal past Peter Hucker in a match against West Ham. He was moved on by Rangers to Leicester in 1983 with Wicks partnered by Terry Fenwick at this point and a young Alan McDonald progressing through the ranks in his position.

Hazell spent brief periods on loan back at Wolves and Reading later in his career then signed for Third Division side Port Vale in 1987 and played 17 times in their 1988/89 promotion season before being forced to retire from the game.

Despite being born in Jamaica he won England Under 21 and B caps in his youth and now works in the Midlands in a programme for young offenders.

Others >>> Jay Bothroyd, Wolves 2006-2008, QPR 2011-present >>> Keith Curle, Wolves 1996-2000, QPR (coach) 2009-present >>> Marcus Bent, QPR (loan) 2010, Wolves (loan) 2010-2011 >>> Leon Clarke, Wolves 2003-2007, QPR (loan) 2006, 2010-2011 >>> Carl Ikeme, Wolves 2003-present, QPR (loan) 2010 >>> Matt Hill, Wolves 2008-2011, QPR (loan) 2010 >>> Gavin Mahon, Wolves 1995-1996, QPR 2008-2011 >>> Tim Flowers, Wolves 1984-1986, QPR (coach) 2008 >>> Michael Mancienne, QPR (loan) 2006-2008, Wolves (loan) 2008-2011 >>> Paul Jones, Wolves 1991-1996, 2004-2006, QPR 2006-2007 >>> Rohan Ricketts, Wolves 2005-2007, QPR (loan) 2007 >>> Dean Sturridge, Wolves 2001-2005, QPR 2005-2006 >>> Keith Lowe, Wolves 2004-2008, QPR (loan) 2006 >>> Bob Taylor, Wolves 2000-2002, QPR (loan) 2001 >>> Darren Ward, QPR (loan) 1999-2000, Wolves 2007-2010 >>> Mark Kennedy, QPR (loan) 1998, Wolves 2001-2006 >>> Simon Osborn, QPR 1995-1996, Wolves 1996-2001 >>> Dougie Freedman, QPR 1993-1994, Wolves 1997-1998 >>> Darren Peacock, QPR 1990-1994, Wolves 2000 >>> Brian Law, QPR 1987-1991, Wolves 1994-1997 >>> Andy Sinton, QPR 1989-1993, Wolves 1999-2002 >>> John Burridge, QPR 1980-1982, Wolves 1982-1984 >>> Keith Pritchett, Wolves 1972-1973, QPR 1974-1975 >>> Dave Thomas, QPR 1972-1977, Wolves 1979-1980 >>> Tommy Docherty, QPR (manager) 1968, 1979-1980, Wolves (manager) 1984-1985 >>> Peter Eastoe, Wolves 1971-1973, QPR 1976-1979 >>> Mark Lazarus, QPR 1960-1961, 1962-1964, 1966-1968, Wolves 1961-1962 >>> Fred Ramscar, Wolves 1946-1947, QPR 1947-1949

Memorable Match

Wolves 2 QPR 4, Saturday October 20, 1973

The great QPR side of the 1970s was infamously denied the First Division league title in 1976 when Wolves were beaten at home by Liverpool in a game that took place more than a week after the rest of the league games had been completed. But for the purpose of this column let’s focus on a happier memory from Molineux from two seasons previous when our club’s greatest ever team but the home side to the sword despite only sitting 14th in the league at the start of play.

You would never have guessed what was to come in the second half when, a minute before half time, Derek Dugan nodded a deep cross through the penalty area to John Richards who took a touch before firing past Phil Parkes with his left foot from close range. When Don Givens, who developed something of a habit of scoring against Wolves during his QPR career, was forced off through injury to be replaced by John Delve a QPR victory looked as far away as ever but you only have to read through the QPR team below to see the quality that turned out in blue and white hoops that day and not only was victory achieved, it turned out to be a thrashing.

On the hour, from the free kick where Givens was injured, Rangers equalised when Gerry Francis widened the angle of the set piece for Stan Bowles who drilled into the bottom corner off the base of the post from 25 yards out. Wolves came within a whisker of retaking the lead 20 minutes from time when they hit the bar but Rangers immediately went on the offensive themselves and a slick move down the right between Francis and Bowles led to a corner. From that Dave Thomas set piece the Wolves marking was slack and that allowed Mancini to nod down to Mick Leach who launched an outrageous scissor kick into the roof of the net from 15 yards out.

The home crowd was restless, angry with manager Bill McGarry for withdrawing Derek Dugan before the second goal, but they had cause for celebration when their team equalised immediately from the kick off after the second QPR goal. Steve Daley was given too much space down the left and his devilish low cross into the six yard box was turned home at the near post by the man who replaced Dugan Alan Sunderland.

Rangers had it all to do again but they retook the lead with seven minutes left in some style. When Sunderland planted a firm header from a Wolves free kick straight at Parkes the QPR keeper wasted no time in bowling the ball out to Dave Thomas wide on the left. Thomas showed an awesome turn of pace as he flew into the Wolves half unchecked and then produced a perfect low cross into the area where Bowles was waiting to sidestep the keeper and roll the killer goal into the unguarded net. An exhilarating goal to watch even all these years later.

Rangers were quite happy to play possession football thereafter but one of their flowing moves almost brought a fourth goal when Leach was played into the area only to be denied by the Wolves keeper. Leach’s touch had been a little wayward on that occasion, but his control was immaculate a moment later when he brought down a long clearance from Thomas and turned past his John McAlle in one fluid movement. When McAlle then hacked Leach down in the area it gave Gerry Francis the chance to wrap up the points from the penalty spot which he took with glee.

QPR: Parkes, Clement, Mancini, McLintock, Hazell, Thomas, Venables, Frances, Givens (Delve), Bowles, Leach

Match Highlights

Links >>> Wolves 1 QPR 0 Match Report >>> QPR 1 Wolves 0 Match Report >>> Wolves 3 QPR 3 Match Report >>> QPR 0 Wolves 0 Match Report

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Photo: Action Images

simmoqpr added 22:53 - Sep 14 My most memorable moment from Molineux has to be Danny Dichios screamer from 1996, made up for being spat upon by the Wolverhampton scum! (not sure if link will work!)
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Northernr added 23:00 - Sep 14 Remember that game well Simmo, we were all down the side there and I was dead level with Dichio when he drew his foot back. I always thought we made a mistake getting rid of Osbourn as well - seemingly because he played in Wilkins' position.
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jamois added 23:41 - Sep 14 I remember Bob Hazell being held up on Match of the Day as an example of how playing on a plastic pitch actually improves your ball control. Played like an Italian defender that day. Wish I could remember who it was against.
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baldyhoop added 08:15 - Sep 15 I seem to recall he also got 'held up' for syphoning petrol for bombs in the Brixton (?) riots
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Canterbury_Don added 08:32 - Sep 15 Also there for the Dichio goal. Although it was certainly 'out of the blue', there was something about the way he set himself which made you think it could be interesting. Had a similar feeling when Nygaard scored that screamer at Leicester a few years back.
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Tonto added 08:47 - Sep 15 Looking at the scoreers it seems to me that a number of our players had hot streaks against Wolves - Givens, Peacock, Gallen. Some of the repeat scorers aren't necessarily ones you would expect (Sheron for example)
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Antti_Heinola added 13:32 - Sep 15 Tonto - and the same in return - Carl Cort got most of the goals he scored in his life for Wolves against us. As you say, Gallen loved a goal against Wolves. Classic Clive of this is describing Agyemang as 'unplayable' - his match rating, though: 7. Poor Pat. Even his unplayable best was only worth a mark who's wording equivalent would be 'Pretty good'.
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Antti_Heinola added 13:32 - Sep 15 Tonto - and the same in return - Carl Cort got most of the goals he scored in his life for Wolves against us. As you say, Gallen loved a goal against Wolves. Classic Clive of this is describing Agyemang as 'unplayable' - his match rating, though: 7. Poor Pat. Even his unplayable best was only worth a mark who's wording equivalent would be 'Pretty good'.
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Pattaya_Rs added 13:38 - Sep 15 Was at the 4-0 defeat in 82........actually good day out as a young casual Ranger...quite a few of us went.........was on MOTD, got it on video at my dads at home.......
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headhoops added 14:13 - Sep 15 enjoyed the video highlights - whats not to enjoy watching Stan, Thomas and Gerry's mullet. reminded me what a good player and scorer Richards was for Wolves. Thought the ref did well on the penalty - but moments before how did he miss that back pass?
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Northernr added 14:44 - Sep 15 Backpasses were allowed in them days, Liverpool won titles with them. Funnily enough, they haven't won the league since the change in rules.
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