Failing in their quest to postpone Wolverhampton Wanderer's promotion party, QPR succumbed to a 1-0 defeat in the sunshine at Molineux.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake scored the goal that takes Wolves to the Premiership, after an uncharacteristic mistake from Damion Stewart, but the R's battled well and could've snatched an equaliser had Heidar Helguson picked his spot a little more carefully.

Rowan Vine also hit the woodwork with a deflected 20-yard effort, as did Matt Jarvis direct from a corner, whilst Marlon Harewood almost punished an off-colour Stewart with a glorious chance late on.

But one goal was enough to settle the issue of whether the home side would be playing Premiership football next season, as the R's saw first-hand what was needed for themselves to feel the elation reverberating around the stadium at the final whistle.

For the trip to the Midlands, Caretaker gaffer Gareth Ainsworth made one change. Rowan Vine, the man who kick-started the R's revival against Sheffield Wednesday a week ago partnered Heidar Helguson in attack at the expense of Adel Taarabt who dropped to the bench.

That meant that the midfield four remained the same, with Jordi Lòpez and skipper Gavin Mahon in the middle, flanked by Wayne Routledge and Lee Cook.

The back five as well, looked all to familiar, as Peter Ramage, Kaspars Gorkss, Damion Stewart and Matthew Connolly made up the defence, and Radek Cerny took the keeper's jersey.

Mikele Leigertwood, Liam Miller, Damien Delaney and Hogan Ephraim completed the squad by taking their seats on the bench.

Wolves handed starts to strikers Andy Keogh and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake, with Jody Craddock partnering Christophe Berra at the back.

Almost inevitably it was the home side who started the brighter. David Edwards connected sweetly with a Stephen Ward centre from the left, and Cerny had to be at full stretch to palm his header behind for a corner.

The waves of gold shirts were coming thick and fast. Matt Jarvis cut inside on the left and tested Cerny with a well struck shot from 20 yards. The R's keeper was equal to it and got down low to save comfortably.

Rangers were weathering the storm, and very nearly snatched the lead against the run of play. Vine and Routledge combined for the latter to cross for Cook - who probably didn't expect the ball to reach him through a crowd of people - to steer wide from close range.

Back came Wolves, and Ebanks-Blake was proving a handful for centre backs Gorkss and Stewart. His determination allowed Jarvis an effort on goal, but he flashed a drive well over.

The Molineux men continued to pose the greater attacking threat, and when Rangers only half cleared their lines from a corner, Edwards returned the ball with interest bringing the best out of Cerny with a dipping 25-yard strike.

Cerny was the hero again seconds later, when he dived full stretch to cut out a dangerous Keogh cross, after the Irishman had tricked his way behind the R's defence.

Keogh was at it again in the very next Wolves attack, playing in Ebanks-Blake who once again found the fans in Row Z with a long range drive.

They were however, getting closer. When Keogh won a corner off of Ramage, many expected Jarvis to clip a ball into the box. The winger had other ideas, however, and curled his set-piece onto the cross bar as Cerny back-tracked in vain.

The second half was barely 60 seconds old, when Wolves took the lead.

Stewart's attempt to usher the ball out back-fired and when Keogh nicked in to square for Ebanks-Blake, the Championship's top scorer tapped in to an empty net to hand the home side the advantage.

In true Ainsworth spirit, Rangers fought back, looking for the break that would allow them an eqauliser. They nearly had it when Routledge escaped down the right and cut a brilliant ball back into the path of Vine.

The former Birmingham City striker took one touch before blasting a deflected strike that looked like it was going to sail over Wayne Hennessy's head and into the net. But agonizingly, it arched up and dipped not quite low enough and smacked the cross-bar.

Following up, Lòpez couldn't make adequate contact with the rebound, and the ball was cleared.

Rangers should've been level on the hour, when Helguson missed the best chance of the match.

A clever through ball from Vine unlocked the Wolves defence, and there was the Iceland striker in the clear, with only Hennessey to beat. Helguson however, fluffed his lines with a tame effort easily saved by the Welsh keeper.

In a bid to keep up the pressure, Ainsworth used his bench for the first time in the afternoon. It was a double change, Taarabt and Ephraim for Vine and Cook.

But the change very nearly had the opposite effect, as Wolves almost doubled their advantage in similar fashion to how they gained it.

Stewart was once again caught in possession, this time by Edwards, who picked his pass excellently to Marlon Harewood, who somehow conspired to shoot straight at Cerny.

As the momentum swung this way and that, Keogh and Connolly traded long range strikes, the latter drawing a fine, flying save from Hennessy as the R's left-back looked to bring the R's level single-handedly.

But it was Wolves who were enjoying the better of the match and Edwards tested Cerny with a free-kick from 20 yards.

But one goal was enough, and the R's watched in envy at the jubilant scenes at the final whistle as Wolves' promotion to the Premiership was assured.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hennessey, Edwards, Craddock, Henry, Ebanks-Blake (Harewood 60), Keogh, Ward (Stearman 78), Jones (Vokes 65), Berra, Jarvis, Foley.

Subs: Higgs, Reid.

Scorers: Ebanks-Blake (46)

Bookings: Ward (50)

Red Cards:

QPR: Cerny, Stewart, Mahon, Routledge, Vine (Taarabt 63), Gorkss, Ramage, Connolly, Cook (Ephraim 63), Lòpez (Leigertwood 85), Helguson.

Subs: Delaney, Miller.

Scorers:

Bookings: Lòpez (43)

Red Cards:

Referee: Mr K Wright

Attendance: