Derby 0 QPR 1

at Wembley Stadium

MID-JANUARY, Bolton are at Loftus Road. Bobby Zamora trudges off the bench to groans from the home crowd.

“His legs have gone,” one fan mutters. “This should be a laugh,” another one shouts.

The former Tottenham striker jumps and wins a header. The crowd send out an ironic cheer. Zamora doesn’t win many headers, you see.

Fast forward five months and QPR are starring down the barrel of a play-off final defeat.

The 10-man R’s are holding on to 0-0 for dear life against a vibrant Derby side that have bossed the game, especially since Gary O’Neill’s sending off.

For the first time in 30 minutes QPR break out of their half and somehow, the ball drops to Zamora six yards from goal in front of 40,000 QPR fans. Wembley Stadium held its breath. 

Wallop. 

Zamora pings it into the top corner with the minimal of fuss. The £120 million goal. 

There are no jeers now for the man who has been a bit of a laughing stock in W12 over the years. Just cheers. Transformation complete. 

“It was an amazing finish to the game and we were hanging on, looking to get to extra-time,” QPR boss Harry Redknapp said. 

“That was only the really hope I could see for us with 10 men, we were under the cosh. You’re thinking can we get extra- time and can we maybe keep ourselves organised and get to penalties. I’d be lying if I said otherwise.”

For every hero in a story like this though, there is inevitably a villain. 

The way QPR had stumbled around the field for the previous 90 minutes in forward areas gave the impression that it would be a Derby error rather than a piece of Rangers magic that could open the door. Richard Keogh’s provided the error that he and everyone in that stadium will never forget. It was his hashed clearance in the six yard box that fell perfectly for Zamora, who did the rest. 

Derby boss Steve McClaren said: “You don’t often get what you deserve. For somebody to make mistakes — we don’t blame anybody.

“QPR showed their experience, they made it tight but they never looked like scoring.

“We had a lot of the ball, got it wide and put it in dangerous areas but credit to QPR, they made it hard to break down. They held their nerve and unfortunately they got the moment.

“Football tests your character at times. But the players stepped up to a big test and dominated the game with great energy and passion. Humility is a key thing in football and this will make us stronger.”