Holt’s winner sees off QPR

Norwich 2 QPR 1

Grant Holt’s 73rd-minute goal gave Norwich victory at Carrow Road.

The striker bundled home fellow substitute Wes Hoolahan’s right-wing cross only three minutes after the pair were brought on.

Norwich had taken the lead when Anton Ferdinand’s miscued clearance from Andrew Surman’s corner fell to Russell Martin, who smashed home.

Ferdinand had earlier been rescued by Radek Cerny after the defender’s hesitation gave Steve Morison a sight of goal.

Third-choice keeper Cerny played because Paddy Kenny, whose deputy Brian Murphy is sidelined, was himself ruled out with a muscle problem.

Rangers were denied permission by the Premier League to sign a keeper on an emergency loan deal ahead of the game after learning that Kenny could be out for several weeks.

Without Kenny and captain Joey Barton, who was suspended, the R’s battled spiritedly and equalised just after the hour mark, when Luke Young netted from the rebound after Jamie Mackie’s shot hit the post.

But seconds after having a header blocked on the line by Shaun Derry, Holt was set up by Hoolahan for the winner.

“I feel like we should have won that game,” said R’s boss Neil Warnock.

“At half-time I said to the players I’d be disappointed if we drew, never mind lost. I feel robbed.

“But then when you defend like we did, you probably don’t deserve to win. For the second goal we had chances to clear the ball.

“The disappointing thing for me is that Norwich didn’t have to work for the goals – they were given them.”