Oxford Vs QPR - Reports Comments & Photos

QPR Official Site
OXFORD UTD 2, QPR 2

QPR fought out a thoroughly entertaining 2-2 draw with Oxford United at The Kassam Stadium this evening.

The R's took the lead twice, through Gavin Mahon in the first half and Wayne Routledge after the break.

The hosts refused to lie down, however, with Matt Green cancelling out the opener shortly after the half-time break and Jack Midson levelling again late on.

It was a good work-out fitness-wise for the R's, with the second-half in particular played at quite a pace for a pre-season friendly.

Jim Magilton will have been disappointed not to win the match, however, as his side dominated for large spells, although the U's certainly came more into the game after the interval.

Magilton named a strong R's side for his return to Oxford United, a side he made 150 appearances for during a four-year stint in the early 1990's.

The QPR boss brought Radek Cerny back after being rested in our 2-0 win at Forest Green, while Peter Ramage, Fitz Hall, Kaspars Gorkss and Matt Connolly made up the impressive backline.

Martin Rowlands continued his recovery with his second start in three days alongside Mahon in the centre of midfield, with Angelo Balanta and Routledge operating down the left and right wings respectively.

In attack, Magilton opted for the pairing of Patrick Agyemang and Rowan Vine, a duo who seem to have a telepathic understanding whenever they feature together.

New signing Adel Taarabt had to make do with a place on the bench following his arrival on a season-long loan yesterday afternoon.

With the big kick-off against Blackpool little more than two weeks away, Magilton approached the game with serious intent.

Angelo Balanta started the game brightly down the left-hand side, continuing his good pre-season form, and he nearly unlocked the home defence after two minutes following a neat one-two with Rowan Vine on the edge of the box, but Vine's return pass was a little too heavy.

Vine himself went close moments later, as Oxford were pinned back in their own half.

QPR's short, quick passing game was very much in evidence once again as the R's looked to make the breakthrough, and they managed it on eight minutes with a fantastic move.

Following a string of passes, Balanta collected the ball on the left before picking out Agyemang in the centre, and his knockdown fell perfectly for Mahon on the edge of the box, who volleyed home in spectacular style, giving Ryan Clarke no chance in the United goal.

It was no less than Magilton's men deserved after setting a quick tempo from the start.

Last-ditch tackles from Rhys Day and Mark Creighton twice denied Vine getting clear as Rangers turned the screw on their Blue Square Premier opponents.

The opening 15 minutes was spent almost entirely in the U's half, as QPR built attack after attack, with Cerny a mere spectator in the visiting goal.

Routledge, whose pace was causing the home defence plenty of concern, nearly got the better of the offside trap on 21 minutes, but linesman Mr Redmond ruled he had gone a fraction early. The 893 R's faithful inside The Kassam Stadium clearly felt otherwise.

The superior quality of the R's was clearly evident, with Routledge, Balanta and Hall in particular standing out, while Connolly and Gorkss were as consistent as ever.

Gorkss appeared to pick up a nasty knock to the face following an aerial challenge from U's striker James Constable after half an hour.

But, having seen the head injury the Latvian played on with in our 3-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday at the tail end of last season, it was never going to be serious enough to make him leave the field.

Moments later, the hosts got in behind the Rangers defence for the first time through Matt Green but, having created space down the left, his shot was tame and easily dealt with by Cerny.

As the half wore on, Oxford came more into the game and were starting to enjoy a bit of possession but they struggled to penetrate a strong Rangers rearguard.

At the other end, Balanta went close with an audacious curling effort from 30 yards, which resulted in a loud chorus of "You R's" from the QPR supporters, who seemed to be enjoying the performance.

On 37 minutes, Oxford had their best chance so far when Adam Chapman's long throw into the box was flicked on by Creighton at the near post.

Constable was the first to react with an ambitious scissor-kick and his powerful effort seemed to be heading for the top corner, but the ball flicked off the back of Gorkss and away for a corner.

Routledge should have made it 2-0 on 41 minutes when Agyemang sent him clear with a neat pass following good work by Balanta.

With time to pick his spot from 14 yards, Routledge hit a low drive towards the far corner, but Clarke was able to get a strong hand to it and tip the ball away for a corner.

That was the last key action of the opening half and Magilton will surely have been pleased with the display by his men, although QPR would probably have felt they should have held a greater advantage having dominated much of the proceedings.

At the break, Magilton made three changes, bringing on Gary Borrowdale, Matteo Alberti and Taarabt for Ramage, Rowlands and Agyemang respectively.

Interestingly, Taarabt partnered Vine in attack while Alberti went into the centre of midfield alongside Mahon.

Borrowdale took up the left-back position with Connolly switching to the right side of the backline.

Taarabt had a great chance to open his account barely two minutes into the second half with virtually his first touch of the ball.

Vine pulled the ball back to the edge of the box from the left for the on-rushing Moroccan international, but his low drive was easily gathered by Clarke.

On 52 minutes the hosts were given a great chance to draw level when Constable's shot from the edge of the box following a quick counter-attack was harshly adjudged to have hit the arm of Gorkss in the area by referee Mr Farries.

Matt Green assumed responsibility from 12 yards, and coolly slotted into the bottom left-hand corner, with Cerny going the wrong way.

The goal certainly lifted the home support and, in truth, sparked the game into life.

Taarabt quickly reminding us what he's capable of and it was he who created the opening for Routledge to restore QPR's lead on 62 minutes.

Picking the ball up in the middle of the park, Taarabt waiting for things to develop around him before playing an inch-perfect through ball with the outside of his boot for Routledge to race onto.

Having missed an early opportunity, Routledge made no such mistake on this occasion, rounding goalkeeper Clarke before slotting home from a tight angle.

In an entertaining match, Oxford were soon down the other end, and Constable warmed the palms of Cerny with a fierce 20-yard drive.

Magilton will have been pleased with the way Taarabt quickly got into the swing of things with his new team-mates, especially considering he hasn't even trained with them so far this pre-season.

Two more changes were made by the R's with little over 20 minutes remaining, Damion Stewart replacing Hall and Alessandro Pellicori coming on for the hard-working Balanta.

Meanwhile, Oxford pushed for a second equaliser and, in all honesty, they were gifted it on 69 minutes when Connolly attempted to chest the ball back to Cerny in the area.

Lacking pace, substitute Jack Midson pounced to nick it beyond the R's keeper and into the back of the net.

Looking to inject some extra passion into the R's display, Magilton threw on Gareth Ainsworth at the expense of Rowan Vine, a decision that was greeted with an almighty roar of "There's only one Gareth Ainsworth" by the travelling Blue and White Hoops.

He took up his normal position on the right, with Routledge switching to the left flank.

And it was his deep cross from the right which almost led to Rangers' third goal of the evening. Pellicori was the only one to react, racing to the back post before diving feet first to get a touch.

With keeper Clarke beaten, the ball bounced agonisingly off the foot of the post before being cleared.

Moments later, Pellicori again went close, this time heading inches wide following a whipped in ball from the left by the impressive Routledge.

Clarke scrambled across his goal and was relieved to see it drop just the wrong side of his upright.

In the closing stages, there was a really competitive edge to this game as both sides went in search of a winner.

Ainsworth went close with a powerful drive in the final minute but the U's held firm and will have been delighted with this result, while Magilton will consider it another step on the road to preparation for the season opener against Blackpool on August 8th.

Oxford United: Clarke, Chapman, Sandwith, Bulman, Creighton, Day, Murray (Potter, 78), Clist, Constable (Silver, 82), Green (Midson, 67), Kelly (Rhodes, 78).

Subs: Carruthers, Killock, Deering.

Goals: Green (pen, 52), Midson (69)

Bookings:

QPR: Cerny, Ramage (Borrowdale, 46), Connolly, Mahon, Hall (Stewart, 66), Gorkss, Routledge, Vine (Ainsworth, 73), Balanta (Pellicori, 66), Rowlands (Alberti, 46), Agyemang (Taarabt, 46).

Subs: Marshall.

Goals: Mahon (8), Routledge (62)

Bookings:

Att: 3,246 (893)

Referee: John Farries

www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1732875,00.html

900 R's.
Would have been a lot more on a Saturday but still not a bad turn out.

Photos from the game if interested

www.mincheryfarmweb.co.uk/photos/thumbnails.php?album=140

And Vital Football QPR Match Report

www.qpr.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=162995