Oli’s happy returns is a piece of cake!

MICHAEL OLISE marked his 19th birthday in style with a stunning strike to maintain Reading’s promotion push.

The French youngster must have thought any celebrations of his big day were going to be low key when he was named as a substitute by Reading boss Veljko Paunovic.

That was until he was sent on with 25 minutes to go at Loftus Road with the match heading for a goalless draw.

With 90 seconds of normal time left, Olise combined with fellow sub Tom McIntyre to brilliant effect, collecting the ball near the touchline, before curling a sumptuous left-foot strike from 25 yards.

Paunovic said: “I’m very happy for Michael to score a goal on his birthday and give himself a present.

“We celebrated his birthday in the hotel at breakfast.

“We brought him a cake and we all sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him.

“We know very well how talented he is but he didn’t start today because we also needed to give him a break.

“But Michael is a special talent.”

Rangers were roused by the support of the 2,000 Hoops fans witnessing football at Loftus Road for the first time in nine months.

Ten minutes before Olise’s late winner, Ilias Chair’s equally exquisite curler struck the inside of the Reading post and rolled away to safety.

QPR boss Mark Warburton said: “If Ilias’s effort had gone in, I don’t think Reading would have bounced back from that.”

Dieng 6; Kakay 6 (Kane (72nd)

6), Dickie 6, Barbet 6, Hamalainen 6; Cameron 6, Carroll 7; Osayi-Samuel

7 (Bonne 79th), Chair 8, Willock 6 (Adomah (57th) 6); Dykes 6

Cabral 6; Esteves 6 (Holmes (65th) 6), Morrison 6, Moore

7, Richards 6 (Gibson (27th) 6); Rinomhota 7, Laurent 6; Aluko 6 (Olise

(65th) 8), Semedo 6, Ejaria 8; Baldock

5 (McIntyre 87th)

Ovie Ejaria

A Harrington