Premier League: Bolton 2 QPR 1

Substitute Ivan Klasnic gave Bolton a controversial 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers with a late goal at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

QPR defender Clint Hill had a goal disallowed early on, despite his header clearly crossing the line, and Bolton then took the lead through Darren Pratley before Djibril Cisse equalised early in the second half.

But the Croatian’s late strike gave Bolton a win that lifted them out of the relegation zone – at least for the moment – with their first points in five games, while QPR are now without a win in six in the league.

Ryo Miyaichi looked lively early on for Bolton, and won a corner for the hosts after linking up well with Nigel Reo-Coker. David Wheater’s header from Miyaichi’s delivery was then cleared off the line by Bobby Zamora.

QPR immediately had a chance of their own as the ball fell to Shaun Wright-Phillips inside the box, and he laid off to Joey Barton, whose side-footed effort was deflected wide off Sam Ricketts.

Djibril Cisse played a delightful chip to Zamora on 17 minutes, and the England striker unleashed a fierce left-foot volley which crashed against Adam Bogdan’s crossbar.

Two minutes later came the big talking point. Cisse won a corner for QPR, and Hill’s header clearly crossed the line before Bogdan pushed the ball up on to the bar and back out, but the goal was not given and the scores remained level.

The home side took the lead on 36 minutes after a well-worked free-kick found its way to Tim Ream, who lifted the ball into the box where Pratley was unmarked to head in from close range.

Wright-Phillips had a chance to draw the visitors level immediately, but he could not keep his angled shot down.

QPR almost levelled on the stroke of half-time, when a good spell of possession led to a chance for Nedum Onouha on the right-hand side of the box, but Bogdan saved low with his feet.

Rangers did get back on level terms right after half-time, when Cisse found himself in space from Wright-Phillips’ deflected pass and he slotted home a cool finish with the outside of his right boot, despite replays showing the striker was offside.

Mark Hughes’ side continued to put the pressure on Bolton, but were unable to fashion any chances from two successive corners.

Hughes threw on substitutes Akos Buzsaky, Jamie Mackie, and Taye Taiwo as he looked to push for the win.

Mackie, who replaced Wright-Phillips, immediately had a golden opportunity deflected over after Diakite had a shot from the edge of the area blocked.

But with QPR coming on strong, Bolton substitute Klasnic linked up with Miyaichi on 86 minutes, playing a delightful one-two, and he drilled a low effort across Paddy Kenny into the far corner to give Coyle’s men the lead.

The visitors had a penalty claim in stoppage time as Onouha was brought down by Reo-Coker, but Bolton saw out the game for a vital three points.