SOMETIMES you have to ride your luck to get three points. On other occasions, you need to show some grit and a bit of character.
And you usually need to make the most of the chances which come your way, too.
At Loftus Road, City did all of the above (and more) to come away with an opening day victory against a QPR side which will spring a few surprises on their return to the top flight this season.
As well as some heroic blocks, there was a penalty save, a timely tackle by Ahmed Elmohamady and one or two goal-line clearances to thank for securing all three points.
Throw in some questionable refereeing decisions and this game had the lot.
On the balance of it, QPR probably deserved a draw for their attacking efforts.
Happily, it was City who banked the profits after an entertaining affair.
So, whilst James Chester may have stolen the headlines with an eye-catching display which put him slap bang in the middle of the two key moments, it was a team display which ultimately took the Tigers over the finish line.
Rising highest to head home his 52nd-minute match-winner from a Stephen Quinn corner, having lost the close attention of former England international Rio Ferdinand, Chester opened his account for the season with a smile.
It was soon wiped from his face just over 25 minutes later when he almost went from hero to zero.
Harshly adjudged to have handled Junior Hoilett's ball into the box, he was clearly surprised to see referee Craig Pawson point to the spot.
Fortunately, Tigers stopper Allan McGregor came up with another opening day penalty save, following on from Chelsea last season, when blocking Charlie Austin's poorly-taken spot-kick low down to his right.
It turned out to be the first of many big saves in the closing stages as the home side laid siege to the City goal, with Loic Remy denied twice by the Scottish international keeper, before Curtis Davies and Chester came up with key blocks to thwart a late onslaught.
In truth, it was a grandstand finish no-one could have seen coming after an opening 45 minutes in which City started slowly and might have been behind had it not been for the timely intervention of new £2.85m signing Andrew Robertson.
Handed his Premier League debut at left wing-back, the 20-year-old former Dundee United man was the back-post hero in the right place at the right time to clear Steven Caulker's header off the line from a corner just before the half-time break.
Prior to that, he had not really been called upon defensively even though City had soaked up large spells of pressure from a home attack which was well led by the pace of Remy.
With Austin and the lively Jordon Mutch looking to get on the end of his link-up play, City had ridden an early storm. Dropping deep and causing the Tigers' defence to look unsettled, Mutch's run from halfway should have brought more reward after 15 minutes.
As it was, his neat ball to Austin failed to get a decent return pass, stifling the counter-attack before Remy's weak shot was smothered by McGregor.
Alejandro Faurlin's turn and shot went closer still as Rangers began to get the upper hand in a passing affair where there was very little room for City to get in behind early on.
With Ferdinand comfortably marshalling the home defence, the Tigers' best chance looked to be from a set-piece but their early corners were wasteful as QPR lapped up the aerial battle.
Starved of any real sight of the ball, Nikica Jelavic saw his strong claim for a penalty waved away by Pawson when clearly shoved in back by Armand Traore when bearing down on goal.
On another day, it would have been given, no doubt about it.
Having got to half-time still on level terms, but without new £8m signing Robert Snodgrass because of a twisted knee after 40 minutes, the Tigers came out for the second period with renewed vigour and were rewarded by Chester's opener.
Where the pace of QPR had previously looked to be a problem, City were now more in the face of their rivals and the introduction of Stephen Quinn for Snodgrass provided them with the missing link between midfield and their attack.
It almost paid off on the hour mark when great interplay between Quinn and Ince put the debutant clean through with only Rob Green to beat in the QPR goal.
Unfortunately, his shot lacked conviction and Green easily beat it away when 2-0 would have been a fair reflection for a fast start to the second period.
When Jelavic's volley was deflected over for a corner with 15 minutes to go, it signalled a late and constant fightback by the Hoops, inspired by Joey Barton and his constant probing balls into the box.
Chester headed one ball over the box, Davies got a block on Remy and then the penalty which never should have been was kept out by McGregor.
And just when it looked as though QPR were done, back they came for more, only for substitute Bobby Zamora to see his pocket picked by Elmohamady when just 10 yards out.
There was even time for Livermore to blaze over the bar in added-on time after his never-say-die tackling earned him a run on goal which deserved a better finish.
Not that you would have heard any of the travelling 1,376 City fans complaining. They were just happy to get the season started with a win.
Just another nine more are needed now to let them breathe even easier.
