QPR 2-1 Norwich: Ian Holloway wins in first game

Conor Washington and Sebastian Polter scored as QPR began Ian Holloway's second spell as manager with a 2-1 victory against 10-man Norwich.

Tjaronn Chery missed a penalty after Norwich's Martin Olsson was sent off in the second minute at Loftus Road, but it did not prove costly.

Washington netted after 21 minutes - only his second league goal for the R's - and Polter scored six minutes later after Chery atoned by setting up the German with a glorious pass. Steven Naismith reduced the deficit with 13 minutes remaining by heading home Jacob Murphy's cross, but the visitors were unable to find an equaliser.

It meant a winning start for Holloway following his return to west London in the wake of Rangers' recent sacking of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Norwich manager Alex Neil, on the other hand, is under pressure after a fourth consecutive defeat.

The travelling Canaries fans made their feelings clear with chants of "Neil, sort it out" as one of the pre-season promotion favourites struggled again before coming on strong late in the game.

They were up against it from the start, with the tide immediately against them once they failed to deal with Jack Robinson's throw-in from the left.

After Olsson blocked on the line as Nedum Onuoha attempted to force the ball in, a penalty was awarded and Olsson was red-carded, seemingly because the Swede had been judged to have handled.

Chery, usually reliable from the spot, dragged his effort wide of the post - but the Dutchman was then involved in both Rangers goals.

Washington finished from close range after being teed up by Polter's header from Chery's left-wing corner. And when Polter was sent through on goal by Chery's perfectly weighted pass, he calmly slotted the ball through the legs of goalkeeper John Ruddy.

Chery, revelling in his role behind the front two of Washington and Polter, sent a powerful shot wide of the near post soon after the interval.

Sandro, on as a substitute for his first league appearance of the season, then created an opening for Washington. The striker was denied by a fine save from Ruddy, who also kept out a header from Grant Hall.

As QPR eased up, Norwich enjoyed a spell of second-half pressure and went close to pulling a goal back when Murphy fired against the bar after cutting in from the left. Rangers' sloppiness was eventually punished by Naismith's fourth goal of the season, but their win was deserved.

QPR boss Ian Holloway: 

"To get that welcome, I felt emotional. I had to steady myself in the tunnel beforehand because I didn't want to go out there with a tear in my eye.

"Then, it was so bizarre. I've never seen an incident like that so early in a game and then we missed the penalty. After the flat line I've been living, what a reintroduction. I feel like I've been on one of those rides at Disneyworld."

Norwich manager Alex Neil:

"The fans will be frustrated and annoyed and I understand that. My job is to win games. All I can say is that I am working extremely hard to turn things around and so are the players.

"I thought they worked extremely hard and kept going until the last minute. We did better in the second half."