DRIVING FORCE BEHIND VILLA PUSH
Ruddy; Batth, Coady, Miranda; Doherty, Neves (Marshall 84th), Saiss, Douglas; Jotax, Bonatini (Enobakhare 71st), Cavaleiro (Costa 57th)
The Molineux men had been knocked off the summit by Sheffield United following the Blades’ 2-1 win over Leeds on Friday night.
But despite pegging back the Hoops at the end of the first half, when Leo Bonatini cancelled out Conor Washington’s strike, they could not push on.
Instead it was Smith who bagged the three points with a powerful header in the 81st minute.
Rangers host the table-toppers on Tuesday night and manager Ian Holloway insisted they have nothing to fear.
He said: “I thought we looked as good as Wolves, if not better. We who have seen and done it all during their careers.
“That’s going to be vital in helping keep a perspective and stay calm when it starts getting tougher after Christmas.”
It should also come in handy during today’s lunchtime scrap for Second City supremacy – a derby that Morley, who also had a loan spell with Birmingham in 1984, describes as one of the most ferocious on the planet.
“It may only be in the Championship but this derby is as WOLVES: Smithies; Baptiste, Lynch, Robinson, Bidwell; Scowen; Cousins (Wszolek 66th), Luongo, Freeman; Washington, Sylla (Smith 66th) have got to play somebody else who is top of the league – and how many times have we had that this season? Just bring it on.
“If we keep working I’m certain QPR will get stronger.”
The Hoops went into the game on the back of a seven-match winless run but they looked the stronger side in the first quarter of an hour without creating any clear scoring chances.
Their only real sniff of goal came when Washington stretched to reach a knock-down from Jake Bidwell but the Northern Ireland international was unable to connect with sufficient power. big as any in the game,” he said. “I never enjoyed these games as a player because of the hatred between the fans. Not a great deal has changed in that respect.
“But I’m not one who wants to see local rivals in trouble. The more Midlands clubs in the Championship and Premier League the better it is for the region.”
Bruce is expecting a “red-hot atmosphere” and hopes his players can handle it. He said: “The big ingredient for the derby is to play well on the day if you Wolves gradually began to find some holes in the QPR defence, with the influential Diogo Jota bursting past two challenges only to drag his shot wide of the post.
But they fell behind in the 41st minute when Massimo Luongo won possession from Romain Saiss and the ball rebounded for Washington to beat goalkeeper John Ruddy.
The lead, however, lasted barely two minutes as Jota stormed down the left flank, outpaced Alex Baptiste and cut the ball back for Bonatini to thump a volley into the roof of the net.
The Brazilian might even have put Wolves ahead before the break but Joel Lynch scrambled the ball clear in time.
Rangers went close at the start of the second half when Luke Freeman’s 25-yard drive crashed back off the crossbar.
Bonatini should have made it can and, with all the madness around you, to keep focused.”
Blues manager Steve Cotterill wants his players to be at full tilt for the local showdown.
The former Burnley boss, who has been in charge for the last two matches, was disappointed with his side’s display in losing 2-0 at Millwall last weekend but sees the derby duel as the ideal opportunity to respond.
Birmingham face three games in six days and the gaffer said: “You can’t save yourself. We have to be Matt Smith T Harrington 2-1 to Wolves shortly afterwards but he too fired too high.
That was his final contribution as he was replaced by Bright Enobakhare. QPR also sent Smith on and the big striker almost had an immediate impact when he headed Bidwell’s cross wide.
Washington went close again, Conor Coady heading off the line, while at the other end goalkeeper Alex Smithies denied Jota with his legs.
But the winner arrived nine minutes from time when Lynch swept the ball in for Smith to hold off Roderick Miranda and direct his header beyond Ruddy.
Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo said: “We conceded things that normally we don’t do.
“QPR fought and worked for it. But we should blame ourselves for not getting three points, with the mistakes we made to let QPR in the game.” flat out at the moment because we are not right. It’s when we come off and we are not flat out that’s our problem. We have to be at full tilt.”
Gabby Agbonlahor is unlikely to be risked for Villa due to a calf problem, while Henri Lansbury, Jack Grealish and Mile Jedinak are also set to miss out.
Carl Jenkinson is sidelined for Birmingham after shoulder surgery and goalkeeper David Stockdale is out with an arm injury. Birmingham v Aston Villa, Today,
KO Noon, SS Football