Ollie tips his hat to leaders
IAN Holloway would have hurled his big hat into the air if his QPR team had pulled off a shock comeback against the Championship’s runaway leaders.
Holloway’s Peaky Blinders hat was on and off his head as his team were outplayed in the first half and then launched a comeback that had Wolves under big pressure.
It took a last-minute John Ruddy save from Conor Washington and then captain Conor Coady blocking sub Ebere Eze’s follow-up shot on the line for Wolves to get away with it.
“It’s going to take a wobble from Wolves for anyone to catch them. Everyone is waiting to see if there will be a wobble,” said Holloway.
But wobble Wolves did. They didn’t crash and fall but after going two up in 21 minutes through Alfred N’Diaye and Helder Costa they were forced to cling on with Holloway’s subs Matt Smith and Eze making a big difference.
It was a fortunate day all round for Wolves because their promotion rivals Derby, Fulham and Bristol City only drew. Wolves are 13 points ahead of second-placed Derby and 15 ahead of third-placed Aston Villa, who play Birmingham today.
In the first half Holloway was throwing his hat around as Wolves took control. Rangers could not afford to waste the early chances but Washington did with one straight at Ruddy and the other tipped away in the first five minutes.
Wolves are too dangerous to treat lightly.
Their first goal came from Willy Boly’s 12th-minute freekick for Ivan Cavaleiro to collect. On another day Diogo Jota might have tucked the ball away but instead it was N’Diaye who did, the ball hitting him and going in.
Lucky? No. This was the Wolves line-up that took Sheffield United apart in their last game and they were terrific in this first half as well.
“We do not look at the league table, we just concentrate on what we have to do,” said Wolves manager Nuno.
“In the first half we played very well and in the second half it was more difficult because QPR are a good team.”
By the 21st minute it was 2-0. Cavaleiro had too much pace and too many ideas for James Perch at right-back and he was lightning-quick away again.
His squared pass undid QPR and Costa, attacking from the same position N’Diaye had been in, easily side-footed his goal.
Perch was subbed with three minutes of the first half left. He was limping slightly but maybe it was to save him from more Cavaleiro punishment.
“I was very upset at half-time but the lads gave a resounding response,” said Holloway.
The difference for Rangers was that they started the second half well and this time they made it count.
Lanky Smith, who came off the bench and got the winner against Wolves in October, was brought into the game again and had an impact. He forced Ruddy into a sharp save in the 51st minute and when the ball flew free it was Washington who connected with an overhead kick to make it 2-1.
“I like my hat,” said Holloway. “I’ve got six of these at home. I had ‘em before Peaky Blinders. It’s me who gave them the idea.I just wish it had done the trick for me today.”