London: Queens Park Rangers' return to the Premier League after 15 years away ended in a chastening 4-0 loss to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
The game started badly for the hosts when Kieron Dyer was stretchered off six minutes into his debut for the London club, continuing the winger's dreadful luck with injuries.
Bolton went ahead in first-half injury time when defender Gary Cahill scored with a curling shot from about 25 yards. The visitors doubled the lead in the 67th minute through a Danny Gabbidon own goal before Ivan Klasnic made it 3-0 three minutes later.
Midfielder Fabrice Muamba capped a resounding win for Bolton in the 79th after a driving run. QPR's misery was complete when frustrated defender Clint Hill was sent off late on for shoving his head into Martin Petrov's chest.
QPR was promoted as champion of the second-tier Championship, but despite having wealthy co-owners in Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, manager Neil Warnock has mainly strengthened his squad with free agents.
One of them, Dyer, looked set for another long spell on the sidelines in an injury-prone career when he fell awkwardly, but Warnock was hopeful the former England winger would not be out for long.
"The good news is there is no break on the bones and might just be a soft tissue injury, which is not a long-term thing," Warnock said. "We just have to cross our fingers that he has a bit of luck for a change."
Warnock might also be hoping that his side's luck changes too.
"It was disappointing how we capitulated at 2-0 and we are going to have to learn lessons quickly," Warnock said. "I am not happy we lost 4-0, but sometimes you have to smile through adversity.
"We do need one or two players, and I am confident we can get them in the next fortnight before the end of the window."
Bolton manager Owen Coyle is more concerned with keeping his players. England defender Cahill has been linked with a move to Arsenal.
"Gary Cahill has put himself in the shop window year after year," Coyle said. "I love having him in my team, but he could play for anybody — and I mean anybody.
"Five or six weeks ago there were a couple of notes of interest with Gary, but there has not been one firm offer. I am very relaxed about it, Gary knows that and that is why you go out and see the performance you did today."
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