Football League Cup 4th Round
Team: Woods, Shanks, Gillard, McCreery, Hazell, Wicks, Bowles, Roeder, Allen, Currie, Walsh
Sub: Goddard
Attendance: 20,984
On the 30th of October 1979, Rangers took on Wolves in the League Cup 4th round at Loftus Road. Brian Woolnough’s report appeared the following day:
‘Ken Hibbitt ruined Bob Hazell’s revenge plans over Wolves last night, with a dramatic injury-time equaliser.
Hazell, fined and disciplined for his pre-match vow to win at all costs, had done everything possible to hold on to Clive Allen’s amazing free kick that put QPR ahead after 39 minutes.
But as the giant Loftus Road clock showed 92 minutes, Wolves battered their way through QPR’s overworked defence, when Wayne Clarke flicked on a driven cross and Hibbit fired a left-foot shot past Chris Woods.
As Hazell held his head, Wolves’ management pair, John Barnwell and Ritchie Barker jumped for joy on the pitch.
The centre-half had said that he was determined to get even with Barnwell and Barker for selling him earlier this season.
He’d kept to his word until the last kick of this League Cup fourth round tie.
Rangers boss Tommy Docherty said later: “Hazell’s comments put more pressure on us and geed up Wolves even more. He has learned his lesson.”
“It was a sickening goal to concede at that stage, but I admit Wolves deserved their replay. My young team must grow up with knockbacks like this.”
Barnwell said: “It would have been a travesty, if we hadn’t got a result. Tommy got Rangers wound-up and it was almost like old times down here.”
“We gave away a horrible goal, but this was the right result.”
The teams now go into a replay next Tuesday, and Hazell must be in danger of eating his words on his old Molineux ground.
The former England B defender had already cleared off the line from Peter Daniel, when Rangers stunned Wolves with a freak goal out of the blue.
George Berry brought down Stan Bowles on the edge of the area, and there didn’t seem any danger when Allen strode up to take the free kick.
His shot skimmed through the defensive wall and straight through goalkeeper Paul Bradshaw’s legs for his twelve goal of the season.
Bradshaw made up for his terrible error, when he made a fine reaction save from Allen just after half-time.
Hazell was everywhere, keeping Scottish international Andy Gray quiet, and almost scoring himself with a header from a Stan Bowles corner.
As Wolves staged a late onslaught, Hazell and Woods became more determined. Woods threw himself at the feet of Gray and Clarke in quick succession.
Hazell robbed Clarke in full flight, but it all came unstuck as Hibbitt scored.’
Rangers were knocked out 0-1 in the replay.
Steve Russell