QPR 1 Wolves 2 - Report and pictures

Second half goals from David Edwards and Helder Costa put Wolves 2-0 up after James Perch had seen red just half an hour in.

The hosts got back into it in the 90th minute when Joel Lynch scored from close range.

But Wolves, who lose Carl Ikeme to injury, survived nine minutes of injury time to finally break their barren run.

Analysis

If Wolves want to end a miserable winless run they should always make a date at Loftus Road, writes Tim Spiers at Loftus Road.

Before tonight they had gone nine without a win. The last time they won here was in 2012 - after 12 matches without tasting victory.

Then, as this evening, they were desperately low on confidence. And then, as this evening, they were given a helping hand by QPR having a man sent off in the first half, before going on to win 2-1 thanks to two second half goals.

They certainly didn't make it easy for themselves, though.

James Perch was sent off after 34 minutes but Wolves took until half an hour later to look like the team with 11 men.

After the first goal of the Paul Lambert era, somewhat predictably from David Edwards who netted his fourth of the season, they settled and grew in confidence.

After Costa's wonderful second it should have been game over - Matt Doherty, Costa and substitute Jon Dadi Bodvarsson all missed superb chances to wrap it up.

And those defensive frailities reared their ugly head yet again after QPR got back into it in injury time.

But Wolves survived. They showed organisation and discipline to give themselves a grounding in the first half. They showed quality to get the goals they sorely needed. And they showed grit and determination to survive the home team's late charge.

Much better than of late, then. And all in all, not a bad evening's work.

After Saturday's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday Lambert rang the changes.

In came Ivan Cavaleiro, Nouha Dicko, Romain Saiss, Carl Ikeme and the suspension-free Danny Batth.

George Saville, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Jack Price, Andy Lonergan and Kortney Hause all dropped to the bench, while Joao Teixeira was absent through suspension.

It was a line-up that will have pleased the majority of supporters, some of whom had criticised the boss after Saturday's loss.

At a quiet Loftus Road the first half was played out in next-to-no atmosphere and with little quality on show from either team.

The sides sporadically swapped chances, with Danny Batth blocking a rasping Grant Hall zinger in his own six-yard box and QPR keeper Alex Smithies keeping out Helder Costa's volley.

They surpassed the 15-minute mark without conceding - a cause for celebration this season. And they even had the referee on their side - not a remark that could have been made too often in recent months.

Man in the middle Tim Robinson missed a Matt Doherty handball in the box, just before he sent off Perch.

It was hardly a free-flowing classic but at half time Wolves had the foundations to press for victory after a solid first half and, of course, that man advantage.

They hardly came out all-guns-blazing, though, for the start of the second period. In fact with the amount of possession they had it looked like QPR who had 11 men, not Wolves.

But after a magical move of real quality, finished with ferocity by Edwards, it was plain sailing.

Edwards' 62nd-minute opener, devastating in its clinicalness (not something that could be often said of Wolves this season) saw Wolves' confidence visibly grow and it was no surprise when Helder Costa turned on the charm with a wonderful second just a few minutes later.

Thereafter it should have been a cakewalk, and Doherty should have made it 3-0 on the break, but after waiting since September 24 for a win Wolves were more than happy to settle for two.

The evening was dampened when Carl Ikeme limped off in the closing minutes

And Wolves unnecessarily heaped pressure on themselves when allowing Joel Lynch to stab home from close range in the 90th minute, before the same man somehow failed to connect from six yards a couple of minutes later.

Key moments

10 - A QPR corner comes out to Grant Hall on the edge of the box - he smacks a fierce volley and Danny Block makes a superb block in the six-yard box.

21 - Matt Doherty plays to Ivan Cavaleiro near the left-corner flag. His cross is magnificent and Helder Costa's first-time volley from the edge of the area forces Alex Smithies into a smart low save.

27 - A QPR cross from the right strikes Doherty on the hand before bouncing behind for a corner. Referee Tim Robinson misses it.

34 - RED CARD - QPR right-back James Birch flies through Doherty with a late tackle. That's a second booking and a red card.

38 - Should be 1-0 to Wolves. Costa swings over a delicious inswinger from the right wing, David Edwards arrives at the perfect moment but heads over from six yards.

60 - GOAL - Dominic Iorfa plays a great one-two with Matt Doherty whose return pass is perfect. Iorfa crosses low and there's Edwards to smash into the net from 10 yards.

65 - And there's Edwards again. Denied by Smithies after he flicks Coady's right wing cross towards the far corner.

67 - GOAL - What a goal from Helder Costa. The Portuguese winger ambles in from the right wing, beats a couple of QPR defenders and then finishes past Smithies with ease. Magnificent.

79 - It really should be 3-0 but Doherty's shot is blocked by the onrushing Smithies after Costa plays the full-back in on the counter attack.

90 - GOAL - QPR pull one back. A corner isn't dealt with and Joel Lynch stabs home.

92 - Lynch is free in the six-yard box but can't connect properly and a golden chance goes begging.

Teams

QPR (4-4-2): Smithies; Perch, Onuoha, Lynch, Robinson; Luongo, Sandro (Henry, 62), Hall, Chery; Polter, Washington (Ngbakoto, 45). Subs: Ingram, Bidwell, Cousins, Gladwin, Sylla.

Goal: Lynch (90)

Wolves (4-3-3): Ikeme (Lonergan, 82); Iorfa, Batth (c), Stearman, Doherty; Coady, Saiss, Edwards; Costa, Dicko (Bodvarsson, 76), Cavaleiro (Saville, 72). Subs: Hause, Price, Wallace, Enobakhare.

Goals: Edwards (62), Costa (67)

Attendance: 12,220 (804 Wolves fans)

Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)

Position in the table

19th (21 points from 19 matches)