QPR 0 Wolves 0: Jones turns up heat to leave Wolves sweating on play-off place

Paul Jones was applauded off the pitch by supporters and players alike as he completed a remarkable week for club and country. Not bad for a goalkeeper who turns 39 next month and was ditched by the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, Glenn Hoddle, a couple of weeks ago because he could not get a game at Molineux.

Jones has joined Queen's Park Rangers on a free until the end of the season. He saved a penalty to enable Rangers to win at second-placed Sheffield United last weekend, he kept a clean sheet for Wales against Paraguay on Wednesday and made a late "world-class double save" to deny Wolves the win that would have sent them into a Premiership play-off place.

Hoddle insisted his side can still make the play-offs and explained why he let Jones go. "I don't think it was revenge by Paul he just did his job," Hoddle said. "We had to let him go because we've got four good keepers at the club and he needs to play first-team football at his age to keep his international place. We're still very much in the play-off race, although it would have been nice to get the win our performance deserved and be in the top six now. I think there are enough games and points left for us."

Wolves were the better team and Jones was on top form. His first really good stop came on the stroke of half-time after Arsenal's loan striker Jérémie Aliadière and Darren Anderton set Kenny Miller clear on goal. Jones dived the wrong way, but saved superbly with his feet.

Then, in the 82nd minute, came the moment Wolves could live to regret. A fantastic step-over by Paul Ince presented Aliadière with an open goal only for Jones somehow to block. He reacted even quicker to turn Carl Cort's follow-up attempt on to a post and clear the danger.

The balance of play shifted dramatically in the second half as Rangers began to take a grip and Wolves faded badly. Rangers central defender Danny Shittu missed a hat-trick of chances and even Hoddle agreed they were denied a penalty when Lee Naylor handled in the 70th minute.

"I wish Glenn was the ref," said the caretaker Rangers manager, Gary Waddock, who insisted that he remains in the post on a game-to-game basis, but would love to replace Ian Holloway permanently.