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QPR's Charlie Austin books Wembley date and ends Wigan play-off dream
QPR's Charlie Austin books Wembley date and ends Wigan play-off dream
(about 1 hour later)
Queens Park Rangers' season was over with 20 minutes of normal time remaining but the night ended with Tony Fernandes' name reverberating around Loftus Road.
Queens Park Rangers' season was over with 20 minutes of normal time remaining but the night ended with Tony Fernandes' name reverberating round Loftus Road and supporters pouring on to the pitch.
Rangers, dead and buried at one point during a pulsating play-off second leg, overturned a one-goal deficit to deny Wigan Athletic another day out at Wembley and secure their place in the lucrative Championship decider against Derby County next weekend.
Rangers, dead and buried at one point during a pulsating play-off second leg, came from behind to deny Wigan Athletic Athletic another day out at Wembley and secure their place in the lucrative Championship decider against Derby County County a week on Saturday. The mood turned from despondency to delight following a frantic late surge by Harry Redknapp's side, who are in with a shot at Premier League redemption at the first time of asking.
Fernandes, the QPR owner, was dancing in the stands as Charlie Austin scored his second of the night in the sixth minute of extra-time. His relief was clear to see, following a stilted campaign under Harry Redknapp that for the most part has been chastised,rather than celebrated, because of the significant money spent on the playing squad
Fernandes, the QPR owner, was dancing in the stands after Charlie Austin scored his second of the night in the sixth minute of extra-time. His relief was clear, following a somewhat disappointing campaign given the significant money spent on the playing squad. Austin had nipped in front of his marker to poke the ball past Scott Carson, adding to his earlier penalty and in the process overturning James Perch's opener.
For Rangers, though, their endeavours were rewarded as Austin nipped in front of his marker to poke past Scott Carson late on, adding to his earlier penalty and in the process overturning James Perch's early opener.
Redknapp said: "It was always going to be a tight game, a tough night. I thought we showed fantastic character. We've got a final to look forward to now. It was an excellent performance. Charlie has been very important to us. I'm looking forward to going back there [to Wembley], for the owners, for the fans, it will be great. That's what matters."
However, QPR started poorly and by the time they had found their rhythm Wigan were a goal in front. Redknapp, who made two changes from the goalless draw at the DW Stadium – Niko Kranjcar and Kevin Doyle in for Ravel Morrison and Armand Traoré – watched on as his players struggled to form a cohesive unit and failed to capitalise on a fiery home atmosphere. Gary O'Neil fired over in the early stages and although Nico Kranjcar's vicious strike from the edge of the box forced a fine save from Scott Carson after 33 minutes, Wigan exploited space on the counter-attack and were more threatening going forward.
QPR, who will be reunited with the Derby manager, Steve McClaren, who was employed as a coach by the club earlier in the season, started poorly and by the time they had found their rhythm Wigan were in front. Uwe Rösler's side scored in the ninth minute, Perch steering in from close range after the referee, Mark Clattenburg, played a good advantage. The move began with Rob Kiernan in defence and ended with James McClean delivering a dangerous cross from the left, making the finish from Perch simple, the midfielder escaping the challenge from Clint Hill and guiding the ball home.
It did not take long for Rösler's side to go ahead, Perch steering in from close range after just nine minutes.
Wigan then enjoyed a period of dominance and Rangers were fortunate not to be punished further when O'Neil, who lost a tooth in an earlier challenge, dawdled on the ball and played a short back pass to Rob Green that McClean touched away from the goalkeeper before tumbling to the turf. However, it was the most blatant of dives and the attacker was rightly booked.
The referee, Mark Clattenburg, played advantage after Shaun Maloney, withdrawn through injury for Roger Espinoza, had his legs swiped from underneath him in the midst of an excellent move that began with Rob Kiernan in defence and ended with James McClean delivering a dangerous cross from the left. The finish from Perch was simple, the midfielder escaping the challenge from Clint Hill and guiding the ball home.
Shaun Maloney had a shot well saved before QPR were shaken from their slumber, equalising through Austin's penalty on 73 minutes after Hoilett had jinked inside and been brought down rashly on the edge of the area by Gary Caldwell.
Wigan then enjoyed a period of dominance, and Rangers were fortunate not to be punished further when O'Neil, who lost a tooth in an earlier challenge, dawdled on the ball and knocked a short backpass to Rob Green that McClean touched away from the goalkeeper and then tumbled to the turf. However, it was the most blatant of dives and the attacker was rightly shown a yellow card.
Rösler said: "We gave it all, the players squeezed out every little drop they had. They got the momentum that overpowered us. But we had some good chances, in extra-time we looked the stronger side."
Maloney had a shot well saved before QPR were shaken from their slumber. They began to turn the screw in the closing stages of the first half but wasted excellent territory and were thwarted by Carson. Doyle did not react at the far post with the goal gaping, before Kranjcar's effort was saved and Austin's header somehow evaded the net.
QPR were in the ascendancy, with Bobby Zamora capitalising on some hesitant defending before lifting the ball on to the roof of the net in the dying minutes. In extra-time Austin struck to lift the roof off Loftus Road, following an excellent cross from Zamora, and send Rangers to Wembley for the first time in 28 years.
QPR shifted formation with Doyle was deployed as a striker, rather than on the right flank, and they were by far the superior team in the second half.
Kranjcar had a volley blocked by Maloney before Carson got down well to tip a Junior Hoilett cross away from the bottom corner. QPR's frustration was becoming apparent, Joey Barton, Kranjcar and O'Neil going in the book for rash challenges, as Redknapp through on Bobby Zamora and Yun Suk-young in an attempt to change the dynamic.
McClean came close to killing the game off with 20 minutes remaining, played through by Espinoza only to see his prodded-attempt well saved by Green, and Wigan were made to pay.
Hoilett jinked inside with 72 minutes on the clock and was brought down rashly on the edge of the area by Gary Caldwell. Clattenburg pointed to the spot and Austin sent Carson the wrong way to level the scores.
QPR were in the ascendancy, with Zamora capitalising on some hesitant defending before lifting the ball onto the roof of the net in the dying minutes. The game went to extra-time and Austin lifted the roof off Loftus Road in the 96th minute, prodding the ball past Carson following an excellent cross from Zamora to send Rangers to Wembley.
