Ten-man Bolton snatched an equaliser three minutes from time to deny
struggling QPR a victory they badly needed and thoroughly deserved.
After successive home defeats against Arsenal and Fulham, the loss of two of
their best players for the rest of the season and the imminent departure of
chairman Chris Wright things could not get much worse for relegation-haunted
Rangers.
And they looked to have got decidedly better as they outplayed second-placed
Bolton before and after they had been reduced to 10 men and really should have
won by a considerable margin.
But with just three minutes to go Bolton shocked the home side with a sucker
punch. Colin Hendry threaded a pass to Per Frandsen and he kept his nerve to
slot past Ludek Miklosko and into the net.
It was cruel luck on Rangers who looked to have been gifted the chance of
victory when Wanderers keeper Steve Banks was sent off for deliberate handball
outside his area as early as the 17th minute.
Following Hendry's defensive mistake, Peter Crouch was allowed to run in on
goal and as he attempted to dribble past the keeper, Banks stuck out a hand to
save it and referee Uriah Rennie had no option but to send him off.
Rangers created a hatful of chances but their only success came on 53 minutes
after an excellent move.
Ian Baraclough crossed for Michel Ngonge to nod into the path of Stuart
Wardley and when he returned the ball to the area, Ngonge was there to send a
looping header into the net for his first goal for the club.
He should have already been on the mark in the first half as Rangers took
charge against a strangely lacklustre Bolton.
As early as the 11th minute Baraclough's free-kick on the left edge of the box
was headed inches wide by Wardley while five minutes later Ngonge robbed Paul
Warhurst just inside the Bolton half.
He ran in on goal only to decide against shooting himself and squaring it to
Crouch in the middle but the pass went astray.
Bolton sacrificed winger Nicky Summerbee to bring on substitute goalkeeper
Tommy Wright after Banks' departure and Wanderers could only muster one effort
in the first half when Dean Holdsworth's header from Bo Hansen's cross flew
inches over.
However at the start of the second half they appealed for a penalty. Hansen
set off on a long run into the box where he seemed to be felled by Steve Morrow
only for their appeals to be ignored.
Rangers resumed control and after Karl Connolly had somehow headed Ngonge's
cross wide with the goal at his mercy on 50 minutes, the home side finally
struck on 53 minutes and the points looked to have been secured.
As the visitors searched for an equaliser, Bolton threw bodies forward but
rarely looked like scoring.
Hendry let fly from 30 yards with a shot which seemed to beat the keeper but
skidded wide while Holdsworth forced a save from Miklosko when he met Gareth
Farrelly's corner with a stooping header.
Rangers were carving out enough chances at the other end though to win
comfortably.
After 71 minutes Miklosko's long throw found Ngonge who calmly centred for the
unmarked Wardley but the midfielder saw his shot saved by the legs of Wright.
Hendry was forced to clear from under his own bar as Ngonge waited to connect
with Connolly's cross, while Gavin Peacock and George Kulcsar both had chances
to wrap things up before Bolton hit them with the late goal.
Rangers flew forward looking for an equaliser but Bolton held firm and QPR
were left ruing missing so many chances.
Teams:
QPR: Miklosko, Darlington, Rose, Morrow, Baraclough, Wardley,
Peacock, Kulcsar, Connolly, Crouch (Dowie 77), Ngonge.
Subs not used: Harper, Heinola, Perry, Bruce.
Goal: Ngonge 53.
Bolton: Banks, Bergsson, Hendry, Warhurst (Marshall 79),
Elliott, Summerbee (Wright 19), Frandsen, Nolan,
Farrelly (Gardner 64), Holdsworth, Hansen.
Subs not used: Barness, Passi.
Sent off: Banks (18).
Goal: Frandsen 87.
Attendance: 10,293
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).
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