Memorable Match: QPR v Bolton

Looking back upon this day, 13th August 2011, with Bolton Wanderers - established Premier League force - whupping league new boys QPR 4-0 on their own patch, on the first day of the season, only serves as a reminder as to how far we've fallen.

QPR have fallen too, make no mistake, but we've fallen far and we've fallen fast.

Anyway, grumpiness and sadness aside, this was a good day to be a Wanderer - and we haven't had too many of those in the two and a half years since.

Controversy reigned before the game, with QPR's promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1996 being tainted by issues off the pitch regarding the potential sale of the club by owner Bernie Ecclestone, a lack of big-money signings and a significant increase in ticket prices, which has left many fans aggrieved.

The ticket issue didn't affect a strong Bolton away following, despite ridiculously high prices.

The home side, managed by the experienced Neil Warnock, fared well in the first period but trailed at half-time after Gary Cahill's superb 25-yard shot. Cahill would leave Bolton Wanderers that January - fleeing the sinking ship in a £7m move to Chelsea - a move which would bring him the Champions League trophy within his first six months at the club.

Soon after, new signing DJ Campbell flicked the ball into the Bolton net from six yards, but the striker was adjudged to have been offside.

As the game developed, Bolton showed their class and quickly raced into an unassailable lead through through Danny Gabbidon's own goal, when Chris Eagles' free-kick was deflected into his own net by Gabbidon in the 67th minute before Ivan Klasnic's shot went in off Bradley Orr and midfielder Fabrice Muamba slotted in a fourth.

QPR's Clint Hill was sent off in the 93rd minute for violent conduct, headbutting Martin Petrov in the chest. to bring the curtain down on QPR's first game back in the top flight.

QPR manager Neil Warnock:

"I thought we did well up to a point but it's a cruel league.

"I thought [Bolton striker] Kevin Davies bossed the place. Seven free-kicks and no booking, he's a clever lad. I can't blame the players we just need to learn quickly.

"We should have scored in the first half, but we capitulated in the second."

Bolton manager Owen Coyle:

"I think it's a tremendous result. We knew we had to withstand early pressure.The fans were on a high. I knew the atmosphere would be incredible.

"We defended with our lives early on but then scored a wonderful goal with [Gary] Cahill and took control of the game."

Line-Ups

Queens Park Rangers

• 01 Kenny
• 03 Hill
• 05 Hall
• 06 Gabbidon
• 04 Derry
• 07 Taarabt (Buzsaky - 72' )
• 08 Dyer (Orr - 7' )
• 11 Faurlin
• 09 Campbell
• 10 Bothroyd
• 21 Smith (Helguson - 72' )

Substitutes

• 26 Murphy
• 02 Orr
• 16 Connolly
• 14 Buzsaky
• 25 Ephraim
• 19 Agyemang
• 22 Helguson

Bolton Wanderers

• 22 Jussi Jaaskelainen
• 02 Gretar Steinsson
• 04 Paul Robinson
• 05 Gary Cahill
• 12 Zat Knight
• 06 Fabrice Muamba
• 07 Chris Eagles (Mark Davies - 81' )
• 10 Martin Petrov
• 19 Nigel Reo-Coker (Darren Pratley - 83' )
• 14 Kevin Davies
• 17 Ivan Klasnic (Robbie Blake - 86' )

Substitutes

• 01 Adam Bogdan
• 03 Marcos Alonso
• 31 David Wheater
• 11 Ricardo Gardner
• 16 Mark Davies
• 21 Darren Pratley
• 20 Robbie Blake

Ref: Atkinson

Att: 15,195