Keogh beats off the boo-boys

IF Wolves are serious about ending their tumultuous season with a scarcely credible promotion, they should look to Andy Keogh for inspiration.

Keogh demonstrated admirable strength of character which manager Mick McCarthy must be hoping the rest of his players can mirror, provided the negativity that regularly invades Molineux does not prove a huge obstacle to his hopes of promotion to the Premier League.

Keogh is no stranger to the frustration that regularly spills down from the terraces, but he feels a quick look at the 17 points Wolves have squandered in front of their own supporters in the last 10 games should be a clear warning as to the damaging effects it can have.

That tally would have been 18 if supporters had had their way and persuaded McCarthy to remove Keogh after he missed his first chance in the 29th minute, moments after Akos Buzsaky had given QPR the lead from the edge of the area.

McCarthy resisted the crowd’s urgings to introduce Freddy Eastwood and the Republic of Ireland striker rode out the storm to epitomise Wolves’ character with two goals to earn a point which could yet prove invaluable as McCarthy’s side came from behind three times.

But he knows a more positive outlook could be more helpful.

“Maybe it is frustration, but it should not be done to anyone,” Keogh said. “They should chant for players on the pitch and when changes get made, they should chant for the players coming on. We don’t need any negativity. All I can do is block it out and keep doing my best. I don’t need any of that and neither does anyone else.

“If you make a mistake, you don’t want fans on your back. No one means to make a mistake. It just happens. If you miss a chance, you don’t want fans shouting for someone else to come on. It would be a much better atmosphere if the fans were all behind us.”

Keogh has now reached his target of 10 goals for the season and levelled in first-half stoppage time, before referee Clive Oliver awarded two ridiculous penalties.

Dexter Blackstock profited when Neil Collins was adjudged to have handled Buzsaky’s free-kick and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake grabbed his 20th of the season, despite Michael Mancienne’s accidental trip on Kevin Foley being outside the area.

Mikele Leigertwood thought he had grabbed a third straight win for Rangers with another 20-yard strike, but Keogh turned the jeers to hysteria with another stoppage time effort to leave Luigi Di Canio’s hopes of making the play-offs even more remote.

He is already looking towards next season but has warned fans not to expect millions to be thrown around in the transfer market at Loftus Road, despite the riches of owners Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore.

“A lot of people are under the illusion that having rich ownership of a club means the team are rich. I can assure you that is a mistake,” he said.

WOLVES (4-4-2): Hennessey 6, Foley 5 (Kyle 87, 3), Collins 5, Rob Edwards 2 (Craddock 6, 6), Elokobi 7, Jarvis 7, Olofinjana 8, Henry 7, Gray 7 (Eastwood 59, 6), Keogh 9, Ebanks-Blake 7.

Subs Not Used: Stack, Gibson.

QPR (4-4-2): Camp 8, Mancienne 7, Connolly 7 (Rehman 59, 6), Hall 7, Delaney 6, Buzsaky 7 (Ainsworth 75, 6), Leigertwood 8, Rowlands 6 (Mahon 31,6), Vine 7, Blackstock 6, Agyemang 6.

Subs Not Used: Pickens, Balanta.

REFEREE: Clive Oliver (Northumberland) 4: Will not look back on his two penalty decisions with any kind of satisfaction.

MATCH RATING: **** Thrilling, chaotic stuff — much like the Championship as a whole.