QPR survive despite incredible City triumph

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See also: ‘Never again’, vows Hughes after QPR escape

Manchester City 3 QPR 2

Manchester City sensationally clinched the Premier League title with two injury-time goals – but QPR escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth after Bolton failed to beat Stoke.

Rangers played most of the second half with 10 men after skipper Joey Barton was sent off for lashing out at Carlos Tevez, yet they were ahead until Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero scored at the death.

But Bolton’s 2-2 draw meant the R’s stayed up by one point, meaning both sets of fans were able to celebrate in a remarkable end to the season.

Trailing to Pablo Zabaleta’s goal, Mark Hughes’ men equalised courtesy of Djibril Cisse’s strike.

After Barton was given QPR’s ninth red card of the season, they took the lead through Jamie Mackie’s header and defended superbly until City snatched glory in amazing fashion.

Former City boss Hughes made an important judgement call, opting for a 4-4-2 formation and leaving Adel Taarabt out of the starting line-up, handing a recall to ex-City favourite Shaun Wright-Phillips.

And much of the first half panned out as Rangers would have wanted. City had all the possession but struggled to create chances, while Stoke took the lead against Bolton.

But by the interval QPR were heading for the Championship. Zabaleta put City ahead in the 40th minute, while Bolton led 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium.

Zabaleta, signed for City by Hughes, collected Yaya Toure’s pass and tried his luck with a shot which Paddy Kenny should have held but succeeded only in pushing the ball onto the underside of the bar and in.

That meant Rangers, with the worst away record in the top flight, needed to attack in the second half.

And they were handed a lifeline by a mistake by City centre-back Joleon Lescott.

The England defender’s weak back-header was pounced on by Cisse, who fired beyond keeper Joe Hart from the edge of the penalty area.

When Barton was dismissed eight minutes later, the tide appeared to be turning against them in a big way.

And in an amazing outburst after being given his marching orders, Barton disgraced himself by kicking Aguero and appearing to aim a headbutt at Vincent Kompany before tangling with City substitute Mario Balotelli.

But Rangers battled on and after Kenny produced a great save to deny Aguero, they stunned the Etihad Stadium by taking the lead on 66 minutes.

Eyebrows were raised when Armand Traore was brought on for Cisse but the substitute vindicated Hughes’ decision by bursting clear down the left and sending in a great cross towards Mackie, who headed home.

Kenny atoned for his earlier error by producing a fine save from Balotelli but was unable to keep out Dzeko’s header.

And by the time Aguero then belted in the winner, Bolton’s result meant QPR were already safe.

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