Queens Park Rangers | 0-4 | Bolton Wanderers |
(HT 0-1) | ||
Cahill 45+2 | ||
Gabbidon (OG) 67 | ||
Klasnic 70 | ||
Muamba 79 | ||
Bolton got their 2011/12 Barclays Premier League season off to the best possible start by showing Queens Park Rangers just how big the gulf between the Championship and the Premiership remains, as newly promoted QPR fell to a 4-0 opening day defeat.
But the 15,195 fans who filed into Loftus Road almost saw QPR take a goalless first 45 minutes into the changing rooms for half time, until Gary Cahill blasted home from outside the area to break the deadlock two minutes into first half stoppage time.
In the second half, QPR fell away from the pace a little as Bolton hammered home their lead with three more goals.
First a Chris Eagles free kick was turned into his own net by Gabbidon on 57 minutes, before, three minutes later, the result was put beyond doubt when Klasnic struck a shot from within the area which, having picked up a deflection, was too good for Paddy Kenny in the QPR net.
Fabrice Muamba completed the victory which means Bolton top the table, on goal difference, at least for a while, by slotting home with a cool finish on 79 minutes following more good work from Klasnic.
QPR will have to improve upon this performance, particularly their lacklustre second half display, if they are to prevent an immediate return to the Championship, they will have to begin this fightback without Clint Hill, at least for a match, as the defender was sent off for head butting Martin Petrov in the chest with the score at 4-0.
In QPR’s defence, Bolton were not, on the face of it, four goals better than them today, but Wanderers are a hardened Premier League outfit, the like of whom QPR must adapt to face if they are to survive this ultra-competitive league. Neil Warnock’s QPR, though, still received a rude awakening to the realities of top-flight football.
Owen Coyle’s Bolton will be hoping this match spurs them on to the top-half finish they look well capable of achieving.
Queens Park Rangers v Bolton Wanderers – Barclays Premier League 2011/12 – Squads
QPR | Bolton |
01 Kenny | 22 Jaaskelainen |
03 Hill (SENT OFF) | 02 Steinsson |
05 Hall | 04 Robinson |
06 Gabbidon | 05 Cahill |
04 Derry | 12 Knight |
07 Taarabt (Buzsaky 72) | 06 Muamba |
08 Dyer (Orr 7) | 07 Eagles (M Davies 81) |
11 Faurlin | 10 Petrov |
09 Campbell | 19 Reo-Coker (Pratley 83) |
10 Bothroyd | 14 Davies |
21 Smith (Helguson 72) | 17 Klasnic (Blake 86) |
Substitutes | Substitutes |
26 Murphy | 01 Bogdan |
02 Orr | 03 Alonso |
16 Connolly | 31 Wheater |
14 Buzsaky | 11 Gardner |
25 Ephraim | 16 M Davies |
19 Agyemang | 21 Pratley |
22 Helguson | 20 Blake |