Smith’s late goal gives QPR victory over Wolves
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QPR 2 Wolves 1
QPR substitute Matt Smith headed a late winner to earn his side victory over promotion contenders Wolves at Loftus Road.
Conor Washington put Rangers ahead with four minutes left in the first half, only for Wolves striker Leo Bonatini to level immediately with his eighth goal of the season.
Both sides had further opportunities to secure all three points, but Smith’s 81st-minute header proved decisive – and denied Wolves the chance to regain top spot in the Championship.
QPR, who went into the contest on a seven-match winless run, looked the stronger side in the first quarter of an hour without manufacturing any clear scoring chances.
Their only real sniff of goal came when Washington stretched to reach a knockdown from Jake Bidwell, but the Northern Ireland international was unable to connect with sufficient power.
Wolves gradually began to plough some holes in the Rangers defence, with the influential Diogo Jota bursting past two challenges only to drag his shot wide of the post.
But Ranges went ahead when Massimo Luongo slid in to win possession from Romain Saiss and the ball rebounded for Washington to beat John Ruddy and tuck away his finish.
However, Rangers’ lead lasted barely two minutes as Jota stormed down the left flank, outpacing Alex Baptiste and cutting 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 following a slip by Jordan Cousins, but Joel Lynch scrambled the ball clear in time.
It was Rangers who almost regained the lead early in the second half, when Luke Freeman pounced on a defensive slip and unleashed a 25-yard drive that took a deflection and crashed off the bar.
But Bonatini should certainly have made it 2-1 in the visitors’ favour soon afterwards, bundling over from close range after an exchange of passes with Jota.
It was Bonatini’s final contribution as he made way for Bright Enobakhare, while QPR also rang the changes by sending on Smith – who might have made an immediate impact, heading Bidwell’s cross wide.
Washington also went close again as he hooked the ball goalwards with Ruddy stranded, but Conor Coady back-pedalled to head off the line.
At the other end, Rangers goalkeeper Alex Smithies was his side’s saviour, denying Jota with his legs after the Portuguese had turned Baptiste.
But the winner arrived nine minutes from time as Wolves half-cleared Freeman’s free-kick and Lynch swept the ball back in for Smith to hold off Roderick Miranda and direct his header beyond Ruddy
