QPR begin Holloway’s second reign with action-packed win

QPR 2 Norwich 1

---

​Conor Washington and Sebastian Polter scored as QPR began Ian Holloway’s second reign as boss by beating 10-man Norwich.

Tjaronn Chery missed a penalty after Norwich’s Martin Olsson was sent off at Loftus Road – all within the opening two minutes.

Washington netted on 21 minutes – only his second league goal for the R’s – and Polter scored six minutes later after Chery atoned by setting up the German with a glorious pass.

Steven Naismith reduced the deficit with 13 minutes remaining by heading home Jacob Murphy’s cross, but the visitors were unable to find an equaliser.

It meant a winning start for Holloway following his return to west London in the wake of Rangers’ recent sacking of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Norwich manager Alex Neil, on the other hand, is under pressure after a fourth consecutive defeat.

Neil’s side were up against it from the start, with the tide immediately against them once they failed to deal with Jack Robinson’s throw-in from the left after just 50 seconds.

After Olsson blocked on the line as Nedum Onuoha attempted to force the ball in, a penalty was awarded and Olsson red-carded, seemingly because the Swede had been harshly adjudged to have handled.

Chery, usually reliable from the spot, dragged his effort wide of the post – but the Dutchman was then involved in both Rangers goals.

Washington finished from close range after being teed up by Polter’s header from Chery’s left-wing corner.

And when Polter was sent through on goal by Chery’s perfectly-weighted pass, he calmly slotted the ball through the legs of keeper John Ruddy.

Chery, revelling in his role behind the front two of Washington and Polter, sent a powerful shot wide of the near post soon after the interval.

Sandro, on as a substitute for his first league appearance of the season, then created an opening for Washington.

The striker was denied by a fine save from Ruddy, who also kept out a header from Grant Hall.

As QPR eased up, Norwich enjoyed a spell of second-half pressure and went close to pulling a goal back when Murphy fired against the bar after cutting in from the left.

Rangers’ sloppiness was eventually punished by Naismith’s fourth goal of the season, but their win was deserved. ​

QPR: Smithies; Onuoha, Hall, Lynch; Perch, Cousins, Luongo (Shodipo 65) , Robinson (Sandro 45); Chery, Washington, Polter (Sylla 82).
Subs not used: Ingram, Borysiuk, El Khayati, Ngbakoto.

Click here for the latest QPR transfer gossip

Click here for today’s QPR quiz