Queens Park Rangers 1 - 1 Wolves: James Henry's goal earns Wolves a point at QPR

Posted Saturday, January 23, 2016 by PA

b James Henry's fortuitous second-half equaliser earned a point for Wolves in a 1-1 draw with QPR at Loftus Road.

Sebastian Polter's fourth goal in five matches - a header from Matt Phillips' free-kick - put Rangers ahead after only two minutes.

But Wolves levelled three minutes into the second half courtesy of a deflection off both QPR centre-backs.

Henry's shot struck first Grant Hall and then Nedum Onuoha, wrong-footing keeper Alex Smithies.

Wolves were the better side for much of the second half but Tjaronn Chery missed a golden chance for Rangers late on, when he fired against the post after being teed up by new signing Conor Washington.

It left Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink still waiting for his first home win since taking over as QPR manager.

His team made the perfect start - Phillips sent in a fine delivery from the left and Ethan Ebanks-Landell allowed German striker Polter to get in front of him and nod the ball into the bottom corner.

Onuoha, on the other hand, had his wits about him a few minutes later when he prevented Rajiv Van La Parra's dangerous low cross from reaching Adam Le Fondre in the six-yard box.

And James Perch showed similarly quick reactions when he raced across from right-back to deny Henry with a sliding challenge as the Wolves midfielder attempted to latch on to Le Fondre's pass.

Smithies gathered Dave Edwards' header from Van La Parra's free-kick, but Carl Ikeme was the busier keeper in the first half.

Ikeme kept out a header from the impressive Polter and was grateful to see a free-kick from Phillips flash narrowly wide of his left-hand post.

Wolves had a huge slice of luck with their goal after the break, but were then arguably unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Van La Parra's shot ricocheted against Hall's arm.

Rangers threatened on occasions in the second half; Ikeme saved from Polter at point-blank range and a Phillips free-kick was headed over by Leroy Fer.

But Wolves were largely on top - not least during a spell in which Smithies produced three saves in quick succession.

Smithies proved his worth by pushing over Matt Doherty's thumping shot, saving an effort from Conor Coady, and then - best of all - diving to his right to get to Edwards' header from Kevin McDonald's right-wing cross.

Washington, signed from Peterborough this week, came on as a late substitute for his debut.

And when the striker found space near the left-hand edge of the penalty area and picked out Chery, the Dutch midfielder should have found the target.