QPR 2 Norwich 1: Ian Holloway says his winning return to Loftus Road was like a Disneyland ride as Hoops sink 10-man Canaries
Conor Washington and Sebastian Polter netted for Ollie, who returned to the Loftus Road dugout after 10 years away to a rapturous reception
IAN HOLLOWAY claimed his rollercoaster return to football was like being on a Disneyland ride.
The 53-year-old made his comeback after 19 months of Sky punditry as he replaced Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the QPR hotseat.
Ollie was treated to a carnival atmosphere at Loftus Road, where he had two separate five-year stints — as a player in the 1990s and boss in the noughties.
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That festival-like buzz was ramped up when Norwich’s Martin Olsson saw red for handball after two minutes.
Tjaronn Chery missed the resulting penalty but it still paved the way for goals from Conor Washington and Sebastian Polter to give Holloway a winning start.
Yet Steven Naismith’s late strike made it a nervy finish.
Joyous Ollie said: “I had to steady myself in the tunnel before I came out.
“I could hear the Hoops going, which is my favourite song and I didn’t want to come out with a tear in my eye. The game was so bizarre. I’ve never seen an incident that early on.
“Did we score? Did we not? Has he sent him off? Then we missed a penalty. Talk about ups and downs.
“I just need to go and lie down now. I feel like I’ve been on one of them rides at Disneyland and it’s wonderful.”
Holloway bowed to his adoring crowd before kick-off as they clapped and chanted his name.
Opposite number Alex Neil had been feeling the heat after a run of five games without a win.
The Scot responded with SIX changes — but he had to rip up his notes when Jack Robinson’s long throw caused havoc in the Norwich box and, as Nedum Onuoha tried to turn it in, Olsson handled on the line.
Ref Scott Duncan awarded a penalty and a red card to the Swede — but Chery struck the spot-kick wide.
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Canaries chief Neil said: “I’ve seen it on video and I still can’t make it out, so the ref is a brave man to make that decision through a crowd of bodies. But when you’re on a bad run those decisions go against you.”
QPR’s extra man told as Polter knocked down Chery’s 21st-minute corner and Washington swept home his third R’s strike.
Six minutes later it was 2-0 — and game over.
Chery’s inch-perfect pass fed Polter who nutmegged Ruddy with a composed poke. It should have been 3-0 by the hour when Washington failed to beat Ruddy after Russell Martin’s shocking backpass.
And Ruddy was the hero again as he repelled Grant Hall’s header.
On 78 minutes Naismith nodded in Murphy’s cross but Hoops held on and Neil’s side have now lost four league games in a row.
