Ahead of the New Year's Eve trip to Wolves, LFW looks back at the career of Bob Hazell and a thumping win at Molineux from a side that went on to become the greatest in QPR's history.
The great QPR side of the 1970s was infamously denied the First Division league title in 1976 when Wolves were beaten at home by Liverpool in a game that took place more than a week after the rest of the league games had been completed. But for the purpose of this column let’s focus on a happier memory from Molineux from two seasons previous when our club’s greatest ever team but the home side to the sword despite only sitting 14th in the league at the start of play.
You would never have guessed what was to come in the second half when, a minute before half time, Derek Dugan nodded a deep cross through the penalty area to John Richards who took a touch before firing past Phil Parkes with his left foot from close range. When Don Givens, who developed something of a habit of scoring against Wolves during his QPR career, was forced off through injury to be replaced by John Delve a QPR victory looked as far away as ever but you only have to read through the QPR team below to see the quality that turned out in blue and white hoops that day and not only was victory achieved, it turned out to be a thrashing.
On the hour, from the free kick where Givens was injured, Rangers equalised when Gerry Francis widened the angle of the set piece for Stan Bowles who drilled into the bottom corner off the base of the post from 25 yards out. Wolves came within a whisker of retaking the lead 20 minutes from time when they hit the bar but Rangers immediately went on the offensive themselves and a slick move down the right between Francis and Bowles led to a corner. From that Dave Thomas set piece the Wolves marking was slack and that allowed Mancini to nod down to Mick Leach who launched an outrageous scissor kick into the roof of the net from 15 yards out.
The home crowd was restless, angry with manager Bill McGarry for withdrawing Derek Dugan before the second goal, but they had cause for celebration when their team equalised immediately from the kick off after the second QPR goal. Steve Daley was given too much space down the left and his devilish low cross into the six yard box was turned home at the near post by the man who replaced Dugan Alan Sunderland.
Rangers had it all to do again but they retook the lead with seven minutes left in some style. When Sunderland planted a firm header from a Wolves free kick straight at Parkes the QPR keeper wasted no time in bowling the ball out to Dave Thomas wide on the left. Thomas showed an awesome turn of pace as he flew into the Wolves half unchecked and then produced a perfect low cross into the area where Bowles was waiting to sidestep the keeper and roll the killer goal into the unguarded net. An exhilarating goal to watch even all these years later.
Rangers were quite happy to play possession football thereafter but one of their flowing moves almost brought a fourth goal when Leach was played into the area only to be denied by the Wolves keeper. Leach’s touch had been a little wayward on that occasion, but his control was immaculate a moment later when he brought down a long clearance from Thomas and turned past his John McAlle in one fluid movement. When McAlle then hacked Leach down in the area it gave Gerry Francis the chance to wrap up the points from the penalty spot which he took with glee.
QPR: Parkes, Clement, Mancini, McLintock, Hazell, Thomas, Venables, Frances, Givens (Delve), Bowles, Leach
Highlights >>> Wolves 0 QPR 3, 2011 >>> Wolves 1 QPR 1, 1996 >>> Wolves 4 QPR 0, 1982 >>> Wolves 2 QPR 4, 1973
QPR 1 Wolves 2, Thursday December 1, 2016, Championship
QPR lost the first meeting between these sides this season due in no small part to a stupid red card for right back James Perch in the first half. Rangers should have been reasonably confident of a win in Ian Holloway’s third match in charge, with Wolves coming into the game without a win in nine matches. But Perch’s reckless lunch on Matt Doherty when already on a yellow card saw him dismissed before the break and Wolves made the most of their numerical advantage with second half goals from Dave Edwards and Helder Costa. A stoppage time goal from Joel Lynch, his first for the club, looked like mere consolation but in an extended period of injury time at the end of the game the centre back went agonisingly close to snatching an unlikely equaliser.
QPR: Smithies 8; Perch 2, Onuoha 5, Lynch 6, Robinson 4; Hall 6; Luongo 5, Sandro 5 (Henry 61, 5), Chery 5; Polter 5 (Sylla 67, 5), Washington 5 (Ngbakoto 46, 6)
Subs not used: Ingram, Gladwin, Cousins, Bidwell
Goals: Lynch 90 (assisted Robinson)
Red Cards: Perch 35 (two yellows)
Yellow Cards: Perch 9 (dissent), Perch 35 (foul), Luongo 51 (foul)
Wolves: Ikeme 6 (Lonergan 81, -); Iorfa 6, Baath 6, Stearman 6, Doherty 6; Coady 6, Saiss 7, Edwards 7; Costa 7, Dicko 6 (Bodvarsson 76, 6), Cavaleiro 6 (Saville 73, 6)
Subs not used: Wallace, Price, Hause, Enobakhare
Goals: Edwards 60 (assisted Dicko), Costa 67 (assisted Saiss)
Yellow cards: Cavaleiro 49 (foul), Batth 78 (dissent)
QPR 1 Wolves 1, Saturday January 23, 2016, Championship
A headed goal from Seb Polter after just two minutes still couldn’t set QPR up for a win against Wolves at Loftus Road when these sides met in Shepherd’s Bush in January 2016. The German powerfully headed an early free kick into the bottom corner but James Henry’s thrive deflected shot bobbled past Alex Smithies for an equaliser straight after half time. Rangers really should have taken all three points late on when great work down the left flank by Conor Washington set Tjaronn Chery up for what seemed like a simple finish only for the Dutchman to catch the ball too cleanly and send it flying back into play off the inside of the post.
QPR: Smithies 7; Perch 6, Onuoha 7, Hall 7, Konchesky 5; Luongo 6, Henry 5 (Chery 73, 5); Phillips 6, Hoilett 6 (Washington 83, -), Fer 5; Polter 6
Subs not used: Hill, Mackie, Lumly, Faurlin, Angella
Goals: Polter 2 (assisted Phillips)
Wolves: Ikeme 6; Iorfa 7, Batth 6, Ebanks-Landell 6, Doherty 6; Van La Parra 8, McDonald 7, Edwards 7 (Saville 82, -), Henry 6, Coady 6; Le Fondre 5
Subs not used: Goldbourne, McCarey, Rowe, Price, Byrne, Enobakhare
Goals: Henry 48
Wolves 2 QPR 3, Tuesday August 20, 2015, Championship
QPR kick-started their 2015/16 season with a remarkable comeback to victory in the rain at Molineux back in August. Having quickly fallen two goals down, and looked overwhelmed in defence by Bennick Afobe and Noah Dicko, it looked like a long night was in store. However a trademark Charlie Austin header from a similarly typical Matt Phillip cross halved the deficit and the winger scored twice himself, making the most of fine approach work from Massimo Luongo and poor goalkeeping from the home custodian, after half time.
Wolves: Martinez 3; Iorfa 6, Stearman 6, Hause 5, Golbourne 6; Henry 7 (Van La Parra 63, 6), Coady 6, McDonald 7, Edwards 7; Afobe 8, Dicko 7 (Le Fondre 46, 5)
Subs not used: Ikeme, Price, Doherty, Ojo, Ebanks-Landell
Goals: Afobe 17 (assisted Henry/Edwards), McDonald 24 (unassisted)
Bookings: Hause 45 (foul), Le Fondre 74 (foul), Coady 90+4 (foul)
QPR: Green 7; Perch 6, Hall 6, Onuoha 6, Konchesky 5; Faurlin 7 (Polter 89, -), Henry 7; Luongo 8, Chery 8 (Doughty 78, 7), Phillips 8; Austin 7
Subs not used: Hill, Gladwin, Lumley, Emmanuel-Thomas, Hoilett
Goals: Austin 38 (assisted Phillips), Phillips 52 (assisted Luongo), 72 (assisted Luongo)
Bookings: Onuoha 60 (foul), Henry 64 (foul)
QPR 1 Wolves 2, Saturday February 4, 2012, Premier League
QPR lost a crucial relegation six-pointer at home to Wolves the last time the sides met following a typical brain fart from striker Djibril Cisse. Bobby Zamora had given mark Hughes’ expensively assembled, new-look side the lead with his first goal for the club after a quarter of an hour but Cisse undid the good work by taking Roger Johnson by the throat after the centre half had committed an ugly tackle on him — Mark Clattenburg booked the Wolves player and dismissed Cisse. Against ten men Wolves came roaring back with a goal straight after half time from Matt Jarvis and another from Kevin Doyle midway through the second half.
QPR: Kenny 6, Young 7 (Hall 65, 7), Onuoha 6, Ferdinand 6, Taiwo 6, Taarabt 8, Derry 5 (Traore 64, 6), Barton 6, Wright-Phillips 6, Cisse 6, Zamora 7 (Hulse 74, 5)
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Hill, Mackie, Smith
Sent Off: Cisse 34 (violent conduct)
Goals: Zamora 16 (assisted Wright-Phillips)
Wolves: Hennessey 7, Stearman 5 (Doyle 46, 7), Johnson 6, Bassong 5, Ward 6, Foley 6, Frimpong 6 (Ebanks-Blake 24, 7), Edwards 6, O'Hara 6 (Milijas 87, -), Jarvis 8, Fletcher 7
Subs Not Used: De Vries, Elokobi, Hunt, Berra
Booked: Johnson (foul), Fletcher (foul), Bassong (foul)
Goals: Jarvis 46 (assisted Doyle), Doyle 71 (assisted O’Hara/Ebanks-Blake)
Wolves 0 QPR 3, Saturday September 17, 2011, Premier League
The relegation scrap that materialised that season seemed a million miles away when QPR demolished Wolves on their own patch back in September. Fresh from a mad deadline day the new look QPR side was in fine form at Molineux and surged into an early two goal lead thanks to a scuffed effort from Joey Barton and a thunderous long range volley from Ale Faurlin. The Wolves team was constantly abused by its own supporters and that only got worse when the excellent Armand Traore crossed for substitute DJ Campbell to make it 3-0 three minutes from time. The game was marred by a dreadful late tackle on Barton by his old enemy Karl Henry. Barton responded to the subsequent jeers from the Wolves fans by reminding them of the score but clashed with Henry again at the final whistle and the story dominated the papers for days afterwards.
Wolves: Hennessey 6, Stearman 5, Johnson 6, Berra 6, Elokobi 5 (Vokes 46, 5), Kightly 5 (Guedioura 46, 6), Henry 5, O'Hara 6, Jarvis 6 (Hunt 73, 5), Ward 5, Doyle 5
Subs Not Used: De Vries, Hammill, Milijas, Foley
Booked: Guedioura (foul), Vokes (use of elbow)
QPR: Kenny 7, Young 7, Gabbidon 7 (Hall 83, -), Ferdinand 8, Traore 8, Derry 7, Faurlin 8, Barton 8, Wright-Phillips 8, Taarabt 6 (Smith 75, 6), Bothroyd 6 (Campbell 73, 7),
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Buzsaky, Connolly, Puncheon
Booked: Bothroyd (foul), Faurlin (foul), Ferdinand (dissent)
Goals: Barton 8 (assisted Wright Phillips), Faurlin 10 (unassisted), Campbell 87 (assisted Traore)
QPR 1 Wolves 0, Saturday December 6, 2008, Championship
Martin Rowlands scored the last, and arguably the best, of his 37 QPR goals against Mick McCarthy’s men when these sides met in a live Sky game in 2008. Manager Paulo Sousa had his tactics absolutely spot on, targeting Wolves’ talented but somewhat lightweight centre half pairing of Richard Stearman and Michael Mancienne with a physical front three of Dexter Blackstock, Patrick Agyemang and Heidar Helguson. Even though Blackstock was forced off injured in the first half QPR were good value for a 1-0 win secured by a fabulous strike from Rowlands midway through the second half. For me though it was the performance of Patrick Agyemang rather than the goal that was the most memorable thing about this game — he gave Mancienne a torrid time in his best performance in a QPR shirt. He was almost unplayable that night, which made his performances since even harder to fathom.
QPR: Cerny 8, Ramage 6, Stewart 9, Gorkss 9, Delaney 7, Ephraim 7, Mahon 7, Rowlands 8, Blackstock 6 (Cook 27, 6) (Di Carmine 90, -), Helguson 7 (Tommasi 77, 5), Agyemang 7
Subs Not Used: Cole, Borrowdale
Booked: Rowlands (foul)
Goals: Rowlands 63 (assisted Helguson)
Wolves: Hennessey 8, Foley 6, Stearman 5, Mancienne 5, Ward 6, Kightly 5, Edwards 6, Henry 6, Jones 6 (Jarvis 58, 7), Iwelumo 5 (Vokes 72, 6), Ebanks-Blake 5 (Keogh 78, 6)
Subs Not Used: Higgs, Collins
Booked: Mancienne (handball)
2016/17 QPR 1 Wolves 2 (Lynch)
2015/16 QPR 1 Wolves 1 (Polter)
2015/16 Wolves 2 QPR 3 (Phillips 2, Austin)
2011/12 QPR 1 Wolves 2 (Zamora)
2011/12 Wolves 0 QPR 3 (Barton, Faurlin, Campbell)
2008/09 Wolves 1 QPR 0
2008/09 QPR 1 Wolves 0 (Rowlands)
2007/08 Wolves 3 QPR 3 (Buzsaky, Blackstock, Leigertwood)
2007/08 QPR 0 Wolves 0
2006/07 Wolves 2 QPR 0
2006/07 QPR 0 Wolves 1
2005/06 QPR 0 Wolves 0
2005/06 Wolves 3 QPR 1 (Gallen)
2004/05 QPR 1 Wolves 1 (Gallen)
2004/05 Wolves 2 QPR 1 (Gallen)
2000/01 Wolves 1 QPR 1 (Bruce)
2000/01 QPR 2 Wolves 2 (Peacock 2)
1999/00 Wolves 3 QPR 2 (Peacock, Slade)
1999/00 QPR 1 Wolves 1 (Peacock)
1998/99 QPR 0 Wolves 1
1998/99 Wolves 1 QPR 2 (Sheron 2)
1997/98 QPR 0 Wolves 0
1997/98 Wolves 3 QPR 2 (Sheron, Peacock)
1997/98 Wolves 1 QPR 2 (Peacock, Murray)*
1997/98 QPR 0 Wolves 2*
1996/97 QPR 2 Wolves 2 (Peacock, Spencer)
1996/97 Wolves 1 QPR 1 (Dichio)
1983/84 QPR 2 Wolves 1 (Wicks, Gregory)
1983/84 Wolves 0 QPR 4 (C Allen, Gregory, Stainrod)
1982/83 QPR 2 Wolves 1 (Flanagan, Hazell)
1982/83 Wolves 4 QPR 0
1979/80 Wolves 1 QPR 0*
1979/80 QPR 1 Wolves 1* (C Allen)
1978/79 QPR 3 Wolves 3 (Roeder, Busby, Gillard)
1978/79 Wolves 1 QPR 0
1977/78 QPR 1 Wolves 3 (Shanks)
1977/78 Wolves 1 QPR 0
1975/76 QPR 4 Wolves 2 (Givens 2, Thomas, Francis)
1975/76 Wolves 2 QPR 2 (Givens 2)
1974/75 QPR 2 Wolves 0 (Givens, Thomas)
1974/75 Wolves 1 QPR 2 (Givens 2)
1973/74 QPR 0 Wolves 0
1973/74 Wolves 2 QPR 4 (Bowles 2, Leach, Francis)
1969/70 QPR 3 Wolves 1* (Clarke 2, Bridges)
1968/69 QPR 0 Wolves 1
1968/69 Wolves 3 QPR 1 (I Morgan)
1899/00 Wolves 0 QPR 1** (Bedingfield)
1899/00 QPR 1 Wolves 1** (Haywood)
* - League Cup
** - FA Cup
Bob Hazell was a big, physical, uncompromising heart of the defence at Loftus Road in the early 1980s. Signed by Tommy Docherty in 1979 he went on to form a formidable centre half partnership with Steve Wicks, particularly during Terry Venables' reign in W12. He played at Wembley as a Second Division player for Rangers in the FA Cup final against Spurs, which we lost after a replay, and won promotion into the First Division with us a year later.
The R's, famed for their well drilled offside trap and plastic pitch in that promotion campaign, inexplicably lost 4-0 at Wolves on their way into the First Division which must have been particularly tough for Hazell who was a graduate of the youth set up at Molineux and had moved to Loftus Road from Wolves in 1979.
It was the semi final v West Brom at Highbury, rather than the final, that Hazell is probably best remembered for at Rangers. Against the Baggies' feared talisman Cyrille Regis Hazell turned in one of the all time great centre half performances and marked him out of the game in a 1-0 win. As a former Wolves man this should have been a sweet moment but Hazell was actually brought up as a Baggies fan and his only recollection of the game is Tony Currie coming to congratulate him after the final whistle.
In an interview with the Express and Star newspaper in 2008 Hazell said: "You will find this hard to believe but the truth is I can barely remember one or two incidents from that game. It was one of those matches where I concentrated so hard that even when the final whistle went I didn’t realise it was the end of the game. But, at that time, Cyrille was ripping up trees, he was really doing the business and I remember vividly the team meeting beforehand. Terry Venables looked at me at that meeting and said: ‘Bob, if you can look after Cyrille, we have got a good chance here.
"Although Cyrille and I were and are good friends that was my mission for the day. For the day? It felt like it was my life’s mission. And from the time we walked out on to the pitch to after the match had been finished, barely a couple of things have ever come back to me. I can remember the lead up to our goal although I can’t remember how the ball came in my direction. They showed it on TV last week but the clip was so short I still couldn’t remember how it got there."
Hazell, who was the first black player to ever score for Wolves, scored eight goals for Rangers, mostly from set pieces, but is also remembered for a headed own goal past Peter Hucker in a match against West Ham. He was moved on by Rangers to Leicester in 1983 with Wicks partnered by Terry Fenwick at this point and a young Alan McDonald progressing through the ranks in his position.
Hazell spent brief periods on loan back at Wolves and Reading later in his career then signed for Third Division side Port Vale in 1987 and played 17 times in their 1988/89 promotion season before being forced to retire from the game.
Despite being born in Jamaica he won England Under 21 and B caps in his youth and now works in the Midlands in a programme for young offenders.
Others >>> Jay Bothroyd, Wolves 2006-2008, QPR 2011-2014 >>> Keith Curle, Wolves 1996-2000, QPR (coach) 2009-2014 >>> Marcus Bent, QPR (loan) 2010, Wolves (loan) 2010-2011 >>> Leon Clarke, Wolves 2003-2007, QPR (loan) 2006, 2010-2011 >>> Carl Ikeme, Wolves 2003-present, QPR (loan) 2010 >>> Matt Hill, Wolves 2008-2011, QPR (loan) 2010 >>> Gavin Mahon, Wolves 1995-1996, QPR 2008-2011 >>> Tim Flowers, Wolves 1984-1986, QPR (coach) 2008 >>> Michael Mancienne, QPR (loan) 2006-2008, Wolves (loan) 2008-2011 >>> Paul Jones, Wolves 1991-1996, 2004-2006, QPR 2006-2007 >>> Rohan Ricketts, Wolves 2005-2007, QPR (loan) 2007 >>> Dean Sturridge, Wolves 2001-2005, QPR 2005-2006 >>> Keith Lowe, Wolves 2004-2008, QPR (loan) 2006 >>> Bob Taylor, Wolves 2000-2002, QPR (loan) 2001 >>> Darren Ward, QPR (loan) 1999-2000, Wolves 2007-2010 >>> Mark Kennedy, QPR (loan) 1998, Wolves 2001-2006 >>> Simon Osborn, QPR 1995-1996, Wolves 1996-2001 >>> Dougie Freedman, QPR 1993-1994, Wolves 1997-1998 >>> Darren Peacock, QPR 1990-1994, Wolves 2000 >>> Brian Law, QPR 1987-1991, Wolves 1994-1997 >>> Andy Sinton, QPR 1989-1993, Wolves 1999-2002 >>> John Burridge, QPR 1980-1982, Wolves 1982-1984 >>> Keith Pritchett, Wolves 1972-1973, QPR 1974-1975 >>> Dave Thomas, QPR 1972-1977, Wolves 1979-1980 >>> Tommy Docherty, QPR (manager) 1968, 1979-1980, Wolves (manager) 1984-1985 >>> Peter Eastoe, Wolves 1971-1973, QPR 1976-1979 >>> Mark Lazarus, QPR 1960-1961, 1962-1964, 1966-1968, Wolves 1961-1962 >>> Fred Ramscar, Wolves 1946-1947, QPR 1947-1949
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