How Queens Park Rangers Won Derby County at Wembley Stadium, London, By A Loan Goal To Escape Relegation

Queens Park Rangers v Derby County, Championship play-off final: live

Follow minute-by-minute coverage of the Championship play-off final between Queens Park Rangers and Derby County at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday May 24, 2014, kick-off 15.00 BST To The End Of The Whistle

 

5pm: QPR's players are still in disbelief as they climb the steps to collect their trophy. I still think it would be better if they were now presented with a black sack filled with the £120m in cash.
4.58pm: Harry speaks ....
"We were trying to hang in there and maybe take the game to penalties but we've ended up getting a fantastic goal.
"I'd be lying if I said I could see us scoring. We were hanging on, Rob Green was making saves and then we've got a worldy of a goal.
"We were hanging on for grim death and then we get a goal out of nowhere. That's why this is the best game in the world."
4.55pm Richard Dunne is named man of the match and is presented with an old-timey football. He grabs it in his hands. I'm surprised he didn't head it.
FULL TIME: QPR ARE PROMOTED TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE Ten man QPR are promoted to the Premier League. They had one shot on goal - one - and it came in the final minute. Derby are distraught. What a way to lose a game.
90+4 min: The corner comes to Keogh but he can't control and fires his cross high and out of play.
90+3 min: Bamford tries and overhead kick but Barton knocks it behind for a corner. This is Derby's last chance.
90+2 min: Thirty seconds left and the ball is in the Derby half.
90 min: Patrick Bamford is on. Three minutes of stoppage time. How have QPR done this?
GOAL!!! Derby 0 QPR 1 (Zamora 89) Unbelievable. It's brilliant work from Hoilett who wins a tackle on the right. His cross is poor but Keogh makes an absolute hames of the clearance, knocking it straight to Zamora who makes no mistake by firing left footed into the corner.
88 min: An extremely rare foray forward by QPR and Barton fires well wide from distance after Bryson got caught in possession.
87 min: Ward hangs in a high cross but Green coems and claims brilliantly.
86 min: Bryson and Dawkins link up again working the ball to Hendrick on the edge of the area, whose shot gets deflected but the ball skips into Green's hands.
85 min: Bryson suddenly finds himself in acres of space on the left but his cross is really really poor.
85 min: Derby are inside the QPR area again but Dawkins catches Onuoha and it's a free kick.
84 min: Remember when it was 90 minutes to decide if the entire 46-game season was worth it? Now it's six minutes.
81 min: It's attack against defence as Zamora is QPR's most advanced player and he's 25 yards outsider his own box. The lively Dawkins sees his shot block. Austin, who's effectively a right back, picks up and dawdles and is nearly made to pay.
78 min: A big punt forward, Keogh hesitates and suddenly Zamora is nearly in. This is crazy, tense, thrilling and chaotic stuff.
76 min: Derby win a corner - their 12th of the game to QPR's one - but Dunne rises and heads clear. It's sent back into the area but Dunne rises again like a giant bear and heads clear once more.
75 min: Rob Green heroics and a Richard Dunne headed winner in the 88th minute. That's what's going to happen here.
74 min: What a save from Rob Green. The two subs dawkins and Bryson combine inside the area. Bryson thinks he's curling the ball inside the far post but Green gets across and claws it away.
71 min: Bryson is straight into action with a shot which Green pushes behind after a fine pass from Hendrick. Green then makes another firne stop at his near post as Martin fired a shot from close range. This is set up for an onslaught in the final 20 minutes.
67 min: Derby make a double change as Craig Bryson replaces Will Hughes and Simon Dawkins comes on for Johnny Russell.
65 min: Redknapp is stalling on making the change, which is understandable in the circumstances. Here it comes now though. It was going to be Hoilett to come off but instead it's Clint Hill. Traore goes to left bacl. Probably a wide move by Redknapp. They need some attacking threat and Hoilett can provide that.
61 min: Redknapp is going to make his final change with Karl Henry coming on. This a bad situation for QPR. Penalties are a long way away.
59 min: Red card for Gary O'Neil! QPR down to 10 men. That's a huge call from Lee Mason. It came from nowhere but suddenly Johnny Russell was through on goal. O'Neil cynically brought him down from behind. It was outside the area and QPR argue that Clint Hill was covering but I think he had to go. Russell's next step would have been a shot on goal.
58 min: Another Austin effort - he gets under it this time and it goes high over the bar.
57 min: Bobby Zamora replaces Kevin Doyle.
56 min: Great chance for QPR: Doyle does well to find Traore who cuts the ball back to Austin. He stabs at it first time but doesn't connect cleanly and it bobbles just wide of Grant's left hand post.
54 min: Bobby Zamora is about to come on as Hendrick hussles a corner out of Nedum Onuoha. Richard Dunne takes a breather this time as Austin heads clear. It's all Derby so far, though there's still no real penetration.
50 min: this is shaping up into a 'Richard Dunne in Moscow' esque display. It's Dunne's tackle that halts Ward's run and sends the ball behind for a corner. A corner which Dunne heads clear only for Simpson to inexplicably head behind for another corner which Dunne again heads clear. When Hughes wins another corner it's Dunne (again) who heads clear.
47 min: Bright start from Derby in the second half but again their final ball is poor, this time from Ward who, in his defence, has very little to aim at in the area.
46 min: Peeep!!! The sun is out and QPR get the second half underway. "No regrets will be the message in the dressing room at half time," says Dom Goodman. What, none? Not even one?
"How do QPR look so far?" asks James Young. "I'm not able to watch the game on TV over here in the States. Live commentary doesn't do much justice."
The look smart in their red and black shirt. Joey Barton's hair looks nice in the rain. Is that what you mean? Probbaly not, I imagine. They look OK. They've defended pretty well and aren't allowing Derby to get their passing game going but as an attacking force they haven't offered a huge amount. In the Sky studio Uwe Rosler is concerned that they might tire in the second half.
Interval entertainment: No goals at Wembley so why not entertain yourself with the most goal-tastic play-off final in living memory, which took place 16 years ago tomorrow. Half time: Derby County 0 Queens Park Rangers 0 A bit of a dull half to be honest. Oh well. There were some signs in the latter stage of the half that it might open up in the second period
44 min: (Yet another) perfectly timed tackle by the impressive George Thorne on Kevin Doyle. Derby then counter but once more their final ball is poor.
43 min: Great tackle from Clint Hill who robs Will Hughes (not literally) and slips the ball to Traore who goes in a quick-fire counter attack but makes a hames of his shot, dragging the ball well wide.
40 min: First save of the game! Ward swings in a free kick which evades everyone but is creeping inside Rob Green's left hand post. the ball skips off the surfuce but Green gets doiwn and pushes it round the post. Russell drops the resulting corner into Green's hands.
37 min: Hoilett has been QPR's biggest threat so far and he goes on another mazy run which is brought to a halt by Jake Buxton. Still no shots on goal. Maybe they should take £10m out of the kitty and offer it to the first person to hit the target. In running cash incentives: That's what this game is missing.
32 min: Kranjcar hobbles off, applauding the crowd. Traore comes on and heads straight for the left flank with O'Neil moving inside. 31 min: Niko Kranjcar is going to have to come off through injury with Armand Traore quickly taking off his tracksuit but that will force Redknapp into a tactical change. Meanwhile, Hughes cannons a shot over the bar.
29 min: Derby have really spring to life now, crowding Niko Kranjcar off the ball in the centre circle and winning a corner as Dunne blocks a long range effort. Russell has two stabs at corners - neither are great 0- but the momentum is with McClaren's side now.
27 min: Big penalty appeal for Derby and Will Hughes cuts back inside in the area. Richard Dunne seems to pull back his leg just in time. Hughes goes down but there doesn't seem to be contact - at least Lee Mason doesn't think so and he has a clear view of it. Hughes isn't happy.
25 min: More Derby pressure as Jamie Ward hangs a ball to the back stick where Forsyth is arriving but rather than head back across goal he nods harmlessly over the bar.
23 min: Almost a moment of controversy. Almost. Nico Kranjcar was bundled over by George Thorne but Lee Mason waved play on. Derby went on the attack as the QPR fans howled for a free kick but Andre Wisdom's cross was poor.
20 min: QPR are definitely on top now . Hoilett goes down the right but his cross is cleared. Barton then tries to pick out Hoilett again with a diagnal ball biut it vsails out of play.
17 min: QPR are starting to turn the screw a little bit now, although it's more like one of those giant Bob the Builder screwdriver sets. In short, it's not very good.
14 min: Free kick to QPR on the edge of the area as Keogh hangs out a leg and Austin goes over it. Barton tries to clip it into the area but it comes off the wall and goes out for a throw.
13 min: For the second time in a couple of minutes Derby manage to get the ball wide on the left and just like the last time the final ball is poor, this time it was Forsyth who skewed his cross.
10 min: It's all a bit edgy so far. Redknapp has sent his side out to hussle and harry Derby off their passing game - it's working so far.
7 min: First effort at goal as Austin brings down a high ball, spins and has only on thought on his mind which is to let fly at goal but it's always rising and flies over Lee Grant's crossbar.
5 min: QPR get the ball down for the first time as Austin knocks it wide to Hoilett who tries to take on Forsyth and wins a corner on the right. It's swung in towards Richard Dunne but Derby defend it well.
4 min: Johnny Russell takes it left-footed but the QPR wall stands firm.
4 min: Free kick to derby at the edge of ther area after O'Neil wraps his legs around Will Hughes. This is shooting distance ...
3 min: Rain watch - Steve McClaren has put on a coat and is in the stand, phoning instructions to the dug-out and what appears to be Dom Joly novelty phone.
2 min: Derby dominate the ball into the opening salvo, looking to spring Will Hughes where possible, but it's tight and scrappy on a skiddy surface.
1 min Peeep!!! Lee Mason blows the whistle, Will Hughes rolls the ball to Jeff Hendrick and we are up and running. It's a slight shame they don't put the £120 million into a bag on the side of the pitch for the winner to collect, but there you go. Deby are in their traditional white and black, QPR in red and black hoops.
2.54 The teams are on the pitch. Not an umbrella in sight. McClaren is afraid to even wear. 'Just get wet like a real man.' Well played football.
2.50pm It's play-off weather at Wembley, which is a bit like Cup Final weather but more expensive. In real terms it's bucketing down. Steve McClaren left his brolly on the bus. Good thing he remembered his poncho. 2.17pm The teams are in. Will Hughes starts for Derby in a free role behind Chris Martin. QPR are as expected ...
Derby County (4-2-3-1): Grant; Wisdom, Buxton, Keogh, Forsyth; Thorne, Hendrick; Ward, Hughes, Russell; Martin.
Subs: Legzdins, Bryson, Sammon, Bamford, Whitbread, Dawkins, Eustace.

QPR (4-4-2): Green; Simpson, Dunne, Onuoha, Hill; Kranjcar, Barton, O'Neil, Hoilett; Doyle, Austin.
Subs: Murphy, Traore, Morrison, Yun, Hughes, Henry, Zamora.

Referee: Lee Mason.
2.10pm QPR have also been in a play-off final, but lost against Bardiff City in the Division Two final in 2003. They were promoted the following year which led to a seven season spell in the Championship during which time they became a "boutique club" so boutique that of the glitterati they hoped to atrract, only really Naomi Campbell deemed the hurly-burly of Championship football as being worthy of her presence.

2pm Derby have been here before and know what a fleeting experience promotion can be following a play-off win. Victory over West Brom in 2007 was followed by a dismal campaign and ultimately relegation from the Premier League the following season. 1.45pm There are many ways to skin a cat, and in this case the cat is the third promotion place in the Championship ... 1.40 Bringing back the good times. That's what this is all about. And for QPR and Derby the times don't come any gooder than these ....
1.30pm Well here we go. They call this the richest game in football but I can’t recall too many victors of the Championship play-off spending the rest of their days swanning around on a yacht like some lottery winner.
Instead it merely offers the winners the chance to top up their pot and take it to the riskiest casino in town.
But if you are a Queens Park Rangers or Derby County fan are you really a bundling bag of nerves at this exact moment because of how your club’s bank balance might be affected over the next few hours? Surely not. QPR are a walking, talking lesson that the pot of gold on offer may not be all it seems. They’ve been to the promised land, splashed the cash with the best of them, yet here they are in a play-off to finish third in the Championship.
No, this is about football, it’s about 90 minutes to decide whether the endeavour of the previous 46 games were really worth it. And this fixture has more sub-plots than an episode of Game of Thrones.
Two England managers: one who never was and one he wishes he never was, going head-to-head. Further sub-plots involve umbrellas and One Direction members. Finally there is the players on the pitch.
There’s Steve McClaren back at Wembley, in the rain, trying to exorcise the demons of the catastrophe that unfolded as England collapsed against Croatia in 2007 and the ridiculous, cruel and pathetic way he was treated in the subsequent years.
McClaren started this season as a coach at Loftus Road, afforded a way back into English football by Harry Redknapp following his disappointing second stint at FC Twente.
Then there’s ‘Arry himself in what could prove to be his very last game in club management. McClaren said this week that, if it wasn’t for Redknapp, QPR could have gone on a slide down the divisions Leeds United- style. Lose today and QPR will have to brace themselves for an extended stay in the Championship. Taking them back to the top flight would rank among Redknapp’s greatest achievements.
It’s all ahead of us. Let’s not ruin it by talking about money.
11.15 The holy grail of the Premier League awaits. Today's Championship play-off final offers a frankly ludicrous £120 million jackpot to the winners, while the losers will remain in the second tier of English football.
As usual there are plenty of interesting subplots to today's encounter. Steve McClaren will be hoping to put to bed his 'Wally with the Brolly' reputation that lingers from a wet night at Wembley in 2007. His opposite number Harry Redknapp's future is uncertain and so is that of the club he manages. QPR may face a bill of up to £54m under Financial Fair Play regulations if they are promoted to the top flight.
Evan Fanning will be live blogging all the build-up from around 1.30pm so do ensure you join him. While you wait, have a read of our preview pieces which are linked at the top of this page. Here is a snippet from the McClaren story, where the Derby manager recalls that fatefull night when England lost to Croatia. Read the whole piece here.
The biggest thing that hurt me that night and ever since was the failure to qualify. It felt like I’d let the nation down and that’s what I’ve had to live with. Nothing else peripheral, like the ‘Wally with the Brolly’. If it’s raining, there’ll probably be another one on Saturday. If it’s sunshine, I’ll keep myself in the shade.
"Not qualifying was the biggest disappointment. That will not go away and that still hurts, but you have to get on with life and football. It was a long time ago and a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.
"I’m totally focused on the game and our opponents. If I’m thinking about that [Croatia game] I shouldn’t be there. But yes, I do hope that it’s not raining on Saturday."

Courtesy Telegraph