Relieved Joey Barton admits QPR got lucky in their play-off final victory over Derby County at Wembley today.
Bobby Zamora’s sweet late winner secured the R’s passage back to the Premier League but at times it looked an unlikely outcome.
Gary O’Neil was sent off for a sloppy tackle on Johnny Russell as the hour-mark approached to leave the 10 men with an uphill task.
But the kept themselves in the game until the last knockings and Zamora’s clincher came against the run of play.
“We have a habit of doing it the hard way,” Barton told BBC Sport.
“I knew we would do it but I feel sorry for Derby, they played fantastic today and they deserved to win.
“That could have been us. They are young enough to bounce back and we’ll make the most of it.”
QPR finished the Championship season in fourth place but won’t care a jot about that as they taste the champagne this evening.
