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| QPR’s Bobby Zamora breaks Derby hearts with last-minute play-off winner | QPR’s Bobby Zamora breaks Derby hearts with last-minute play-off winner |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Steve McClaren must be sick of the sight of this stadium. Back at Wembley for the first time since the infamous defeat against Croatia in 2007 that cost him his job as England manager, he was left crestfallen when Bobby Zamora scored the 90th-minute winner that broke Derby hearts and restored Queens Park Rangers to the Premier League at the first time of asking. | Steve McClaren must be sick of the sight of this stadium. Back at Wembley for the first time since the infamous defeat against Croatia in 2007 that cost him his job as England manager, he was left crestfallen when Bobby Zamora scored the 90th-minute winner that broke Derby hearts and restored Queens Park Rangers to the Premier League at the first time of asking. |
| To say the outcome was cruel on Derby barely does it justice. McClaren’s callow team totally outplayed QPR, dominating possession and laying siege to their goal for almost the entire second half. It was embarrassingly one-sided during that period as QPR, playing with 10 men after Gary O’Neil was sent off for a professional foul on Johnny Russell in the 59th minute, desperately hung on. | To say the outcome was cruel on Derby barely does it justice. McClaren’s callow team totally outplayed QPR, dominating possession and laying siege to their goal for almost the entire second half. It was embarrassingly one-sided during that period as QPR, playing with 10 men after Gary O’Neil was sent off for a professional foul on Johnny Russell in the 59th minute, desperately hung on. |
| Yet fate was not smiling on Derby here and particularly cursed was Richard Keogh, the central defender who was trudging around the pitch in tears at the final whistle after his mistake gifted Zamora his goal. Keogh’s miscued clearance dropped at the feet of the QPR substitute, who also scored the winner in the play-off final for West Ham United against Preston North End nine years ago, and he planted a superb left-footed shot into the top corner. It was QPR’s only shot on target all game. | Yet fate was not smiling on Derby here and particularly cursed was Richard Keogh, the central defender who was trudging around the pitch in tears at the final whistle after his mistake gifted Zamora his goal. Keogh’s miscued clearance dropped at the feet of the QPR substitute, who also scored the winner in the play-off final for West Ham United against Preston North End nine years ago, and he planted a superb left-footed shot into the top corner. It was QPR’s only shot on target all game. |
| McClaren responded by throwing on Patrick Bamford in a desperate attempt to force an equaliser but Derby were unable to recover from the body blow that Zamora had delivered. QPR, for whom Richard Dunne was outstanding in central defence, held on for a victory that prompted raucous scenes at the final whistle as Tony Fernandes, the club’s chairman, joined the players on the pitch, drenching them in champagne. | McClaren responded by throwing on Patrick Bamford in a desperate attempt to force an equaliser but Derby were unable to recover from the body blow that Zamora had delivered. QPR, for whom Richard Dunne was outstanding in central defence, held on for a victory that prompted raucous scenes at the final whistle as Tony Fernandes, the club’s chairman, joined the players on the pitch, drenching them in champagne. |
| McClaren and his players could not have been more magnanimous in defeat – they stayed and applauded as QPR lifted the trophy – yet it will take some character to recover from this gut-wrenching result. Harry Redknapp, the QPR manager, looked almost apologetic when he embraced McClaren, the man he had employed as a first-team coach at the start of the season. | McClaren and his players could not have been more magnanimous in defeat – they stayed and applauded as QPR lifted the trophy – yet it will take some character to recover from this gut-wrenching result. Harry Redknapp, the QPR manager, looked almost apologetic when he embraced McClaren, the man he had employed as a first-team coach at the start of the season. |
| If one criticism could be levelled at Derby it would be that for all their dominance, in particular in the second half, when the hugely impressive George Thorne was controlling midfield, they lacked a killer touch in front of goal. Robert Green denied Craig Bryson, Chris Martin and Simon Dawkins in the space of six minutes shortly after O’Neil was dismissed, but they were all saves that the QPR goalkeeper is expected to make. | If one criticism could be levelled at Derby it would be that for all their dominance, in particular in the second half, when the hugely impressive George Thorne was controlling midfield, they lacked a killer touch in front of goal. Robert Green denied Craig Bryson, Chris Martin and Simon Dawkins in the space of six minutes shortly after O’Neil was dismissed, but they were all saves that the QPR goalkeeper is expected to make. |
| Zamora was nothing like as generous when opportunity knocked for him following a catalogue of Derby errors. Junior Hoilett got away from Jake Buxton far too easily on the QPR right, riding the central defender’s weak challenge, and the danger should have been averted when the winger’s centre landed at the feet of Keogh. Instead it was laid on a plate for Zamora, whose finish was unerring on what could be his last game for the club. | Zamora was nothing like as generous when opportunity knocked for him following a catalogue of Derby errors. Junior Hoilett got away from Jake Buxton far too easily on the QPR right, riding the central defender’s weak challenge, and the danger should have been averted when the winger’s centre landed at the feet of Keogh. Instead it was laid on a plate for Zamora, whose finish was unerring on what could be his last game for the club. |
| For QPR, the one grey cloud hanging over their return to the Premier League is the substantial fine they will almost certainly face for breaching the Football League’s financial fair play rules. With League clubs permitted to make losses of £8m without sanction, the question is not so much whether QPR will pay a penalty but what percentage of their £80m bonanza will be lost. QPR recorded losses of £65.4m in 2012-13 and this season’s figure is predicted to be in the region of £40m-£50m, which would mean a fair play tax of around £30m. Those worries, however, can wait for another day. | For QPR, the one grey cloud hanging over their return to the Premier League is the substantial fine they will almost certainly face for breaching the Football League’s financial fair play rules. With League clubs permitted to make losses of £8m without sanction, the question is not so much whether QPR will pay a penalty but what percentage of their £80m bonanza will be lost. QPR recorded losses of £65.4m in 2012-13 and this season’s figure is predicted to be in the region of £40m-£50m, which would mean a fair play tax of around £30m. Those worries, however, can wait for another day. |
| Redknapp looked relieved more than elated afterwards. He admitted that his team were out on their feet and playing for penalties before Zamora’s strike. Their only other notable chance in the game came early in the second half when Armand Traoré, who replaced the injured Niko Kranjcar before the interval, cut the ball back for Charlie Austin. Unmarked and only 12 yards out, the QPR striker snatched at the chance and his side-footed effort drifted wide of the upright. | Redknapp looked relieved more than elated afterwards. He admitted that his team were out on their feet and playing for penalties before Zamora’s strike. Their only other notable chance in the game came early in the second half when Armand Traoré, who replaced the injured Niko Kranjcar before the interval, cut the ball back for Charlie Austin. Unmarked and only 12 yards out, the QPR striker snatched at the chance and his side-footed effort drifted wide of the upright. |
| Three minutes later O’Neil was dismissed. Nedum Onuoha carelessly gave away possession and Will Hughes wriggled clear before releasing Russell, who was just about to break into the penalty area when O’Neil, with no chance of making contact with the ball, cynically brought down the Derby winger. Lee Mason, the referee, consulted the assistant on that side of the pitch before brandishing a red card. There was not one word of complaint from O’Neil. | Three minutes later O’Neil was dismissed. Nedum Onuoha carelessly gave away possession and Will Hughes wriggled clear before releasing Russell, who was just about to break into the penalty area when O’Neil, with no chance of making contact with the ball, cynically brought down the Derby winger. Lee Mason, the referee, consulted the assistant on that side of the pitch before brandishing a red card. There was not one word of complaint from O’Neil. |
| Redknapp responded by withdrawing Austin into a deeper position wide on the left to create two banks of four but QPR were unable to stem to the tide as Derby continued to launch attack after attack. Bryson, on for Hughes, was denied by Green at the near post. Moments later the QPR goalkeeper stuck out his left arm to keep out Martin’s attempt to squeeze the ball inside the same upright. Back came Derby again, Bryson setting up Dawkins, only for Green to throw himself to his left to keep the ball out. | Redknapp responded by withdrawing Austin into a deeper position wide on the left to create two banks of four but QPR were unable to stem to the tide as Derby continued to launch attack after attack. Bryson, on for Hughes, was denied by Green at the near post. Moments later the QPR goalkeeper stuck out his left arm to keep out Martin’s attempt to squeeze the ball inside the same upright. Back came Derby again, Bryson setting up Dawkins, only for Green to throw himself to his left to keep the ball out. |
| It was backs-to-the-wall stuff for QPR and there was a growing sense that extra time would be too much for an ageing team, yet that theory was blown out of the water when Zamora delivered the classic sucker punch to propel QPR back into the Premier League. |