QPR 2-1 Watford

Charlie Austin’s late hit and Joey Barton’s pinpoint free-kick put Rangers into the play-offs – but they are going to have to better if it all ends in Wembley smiles.

A stuttering Hoops were pegged back for long periods, and it was only when the returning midfielder curled a dead-centre shot around the wall was there a collective sigh of relief.

When Austin took his time but likewise curled beyond Manuel Almunia, it was a muted celebration.

The leading striker pulled up jogging back to the restart clutching his hamstring and was immediately substituted.

Man of the match Nedum Onuoha was everywhere at the back, and he needed to be. Without his last-ditch tackles and a headed clearance off the line this would have been a heavy away win.

Maybe the nerves of finally nailing a play-off spot got to Rs in the early exchanges.

A much-changed side from the one beaten by Leicester allowed huge gaps at the back a better side would have blown open even wider.

Rob Green had to get down low to his right to divert Troy Deeney’s shot after Richard Dunne misjudged a header into the striker’s path.

The excellent Onuoha put in a saving tackle to deny Deeney, left all alone on the left of the box.

Danny Simpson’s dipping half-volley was safely gathered by Manuel Almunia, but at the other end Daniel Pudil was only denied at the last by Armand Traore because he sprinted from left to right to get his foot in.

It took added-on time for Almunia to get properly tested, but even then Tom Carroll’s curling free-kick was the right side of the Watford keeper to get fisted to his right.

Barton’s back header denied Hornets a minute after the restart, and Deeney again had time to pull the trigger for Green to push over at his near posrt.

The goal that had been threatened finally arrived when Deeney’s knockdown in the box was gathered Mathias Ranegie who turned Dunne cleverly to leave Green no chance with a point-blank drive.

Austin’s first attempt of the game arrived with a downward header from a Barton corner, but there claret shirts in numbers to thwart the striker.

He then drew aim from the edge of the box, and this time Almunia did have to get across sharply to parry away.

Barton’s leveller lasted all of 40 seconds from the restart before Onuoha was heading off the line from Alman Abdi’s side-foot with Green beaten.

Fingernails were down to the quick in the last few minutes, but Austin’s curler laid all fears to rest, although news on the forward is eagerly anticipated.


QPR: 4-3-1-2: Green, Simpson (Hoilett 72), Onuoha, Dunne, Hill; Barton, Carroll; Traore; Morrison; Austin (Henry 90), Doyle (Zamora 72); subs not used: Murphy, Hughes, Keane, Yun