Post by QPR Report on Aug 1, 2009 15:59:55 GMT
Today's gate: Just over 3,000
QPR Official Site - QPR 3, SOUTHAMPTON 0
Rangers finished their pre-season campaign in style, as goals from Kaspars Gorkss, Angelo Balanta and Adel Taarabt were enough to see off Southampton.
Gorkss put Rangers ahead as early as the ninth minute with a bullet header, before Balanta coolly slotted home before the interval.
Taarabt then sent home Rangers' third after a splendid run, in a match where Jim Magilton's men were more than value for their win.
R's manager Magilton made just two changes from the side that overcame Wycombe Wanderers by two goals to one in midweek, though both were enforced on him.
Trialist goalkeeper Andy Marshall replaced Radek Cerny, who missed the game owing to illness.
Elsewhere, Gary Borrowdale came in for Matt Connolly, who picked up an ankle knock in Rangers' 2-1 win on Tuesday at Adams Park.
The game was marked pre kick-off with a minute's silence for both Sir Bobby Robson and Antony Lillis, who both sadly passed away on Wednesday and Friday respectively.
As the rain lashed down on the Loftus Road playing surface in front of the watching Bernie Ecclestone, it was the R's who were faster out of the blocks with some neat, intricate play.
And indeed, it was such dominance that not only led to the first chance of the game - but football that also saw Rangers take an early opening lead in the ninth minute.
When Patrick Agyemang won a corner off the back of a Saints defender, Wayne Routledge sent over a teasing cross from the left.
The ball seemed to be rising above every man in the box - but not Gorkss, as the Latvian defender rose highest to expertly thump a header into the top right-hand corner of the net.
It was a goal that seemed to spur on the R's who at times played some lovely stuff along the deck, not least when only a last-ditch tackle from the Southampton defence stopped Rowan Vine from being through on goal after good play between himself, Borrowdale and Balanta.
Rangers in truth didn't have it all there on way - especially when after good work down the right from Saints full-back Lloyd James, Joseph Mills could only head wide of Marshall's left-hand post.
Though it was short lived, and the R's found themselves two goals to the good in the 34th minute.
After a cross from Borrowdale caused confusion within the Saints back four, the ball fell kindly to Balanta, who made no mistake from 10-yards and slotted home into the bottom right-hand corner to double Rangers' advantage just before the half-time whistle.
As unfamiliar as it may sound in pre-season, Rangers made just one change at the break - but nevertheless it was a substitution, as Heidar Helguson replaced Agyemang.
That though, did mean that Rangers were afforded the chance to carry on where they left off in the first half.
Indeed, that was the case early on in the second half when Routledge sent over a cross-field ball to Balanta that sat up lovely for the Colombian to hit on the half volley, but he could only shoot just over Kelvin Davis' crossbar.
Soon after, Balanta beat several challenges from the Saints backline to feed Vine out wide.
The Rangers front made teased his full-back before cutting in to cross dangerously into the area, but that effort deceived everyone and went safely out of play.
It wasn't exactly total dominance, though Rangers were having the lion's share of possession and indeed, the more chances.
This time after good work out wide from the newly introduced Hogan Ephraim, he fed Taarabt, but the Tottenham loanee could only blast high and wide of the target.
Moments later however, the Moroccan starlet wasn't to make the same mistake - scoring a quite fantastic goal to put the R's three up on 77 minutes.
Twisting and turning three men with relative ease, Taarabt found himself in space before calmly slotting home past Davies in the visitors' goal from the edge of the area.
Taarabt could have added a second when he received the ball some 20-yards out, but he shot just wide of the goal.
Though it wasn't to matter, as the R's ended their pre-season campaign with performance that gives great confidence to all ahead of next Saturday's opener at home to Blackpool.
QPR: Marshall, Ramage (Ainsworth 77), Borrowdale (Brown 77), Mahon (Alberti 77), Hall (Stewart 69), Gorkss, Routledge (Ephraim 69), Rowlands, Vine (Taarabt 63), Balanta (Pellicori 77), Agyemang (Helguson 46).
Subs not used: Putnins.
Goals: Gorkss (9), Balanta (34), Taarabt (70).
Southampton: Davis, James (Murty 46), Harding, Wotton (Gillett 46), Lancashire, Perry, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Saganowski (Thomson 75), Paterson (Rasiak 63), Mills (Gobern 81).
Subs not used: Bialkowski.
Referee: Mr P Crossley
Att: 3,164.
Southampton Official Site
QPR 3-0 Saints - Full Time
Posted on: Sat 01 Aug 2009
QPR: Marshall, Ramage, Borrowdale, Mahon, Hall, Gorkss, Routledge, Rowlands, Vine, Balanta, Agyemang. Subs: Ainsworth, Putnins, Alberti, Ephraim, Stewart, Brown, Helguson, Taarabt, Pellicori.
Saints: Davis, James, Harding, Wotton, Lancashire, Perry, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Saganowski, Paterson, Mills. Subs: Bialkowski, Gobern, Gillett, Thomson, Rasiak, Murty.
A minute's silence is held in memory of the late Sir Bobby Robson as the hosts prepare to kick things off at Loftus Road.
1: Lallana clips a ball in from the right which is plucked out of the air by Rangers 'keeper Andy Marshall.
4: A string of passes from Saints eventaully ends up with Lallana supplying Saganowski in the area, and with his back to goal, the Polish striker scuffs a shot wide of the right hand post.
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6: Paterson tries an early shot which fails to trouble Marshall. as the game continues at a leisurely pace,
7: A Wayne Routledge cross is cleared by a combination of Lloyd James and Olly Lancashire.
8: GOAL 1-0 Patrick Agyemang forces the first corner of the game for Jim Magilton's side and from the set-piece Routedge's in-swinger is met by the head of Kasapars Gorkss who firmly heads home for 1-0.
10: Angelo Balanta heads wide from Rowlands' cross as the hosts start to get a grip on the game.
12: A knock to Dan Harding leaves the former Ipswich man requiring treatment but he is soon back on his feet to help his side clear their lines.
14: Paterson, Schneiderlin and Mills link up before the latter smashes a shot high over the crossbar.
16: Offside against Saganowski as Mills tries to play him through on goal.
17: Balanta is left needing treatment after suffering a knock to his head, allowing a temporary break in play where Paul Wotton receives some instructions from the touchline.
20: Rowlands forces another corner but it is cleared before it reaches the Saints area.
22. Lallana's cross his headed goalwards by Mills but gathered easily by Marshall.
24: A busy couple of minutes for Lallana continues as he skips through the Rangers defence to create an opportunity for himself which is blocked, but then gets a second stab when Mills and Paterson combine to tee him up, but this time the England Under-21 star's effort goes over.
27: Ramage and Routledge combine well on the right for the hosts before the former's cross is headed clear by Lancashire.
28: Mills connects with a Lloyd James centre from the right but the youngster's header flies wide of the left post.
30: Perry guides the ball back to Davis under pressure from Agyemang who tried to capitalise from Routledge's through ball.
34: GOAL 2-0 Balanta who recovered from his earlier knock, collects a one-two with Rowlands before sliding the ball past Davis with the outside of his boot.
37: Paterson drifts a cross past the far post as the rain starts to fall in West London.
40: Morgan Schneiderlin floats a free-kick wide after Saganowski had been brought down 35 yards fromn goal.
43: Hesitation from Davis and Agyemang before the Saints 'keeper collects the ball under pressure from a delicate through ball from Ramage.
45: One minute of added time is announced as Lloyd James fires over from the right hand side.
Half Time: QPR 2-0 Saints
46: QPR Sub: Helguson ON Agyemnag OFF
46: Saints Sub: Gillett and Murty ON Wotton and James OFF
47: Balanta steadies himself to shoot before smashing a shot high and wide of Davis' goal for the first opportunity of the new half.
51: Lallana wins a free-kick on the right which is whipped in by Mills to the far post but collected off the head of Paterson by Marshall.
54: Lallana earns another free-kick after he is blocked off by Borrowdale as he and Murty try to force an opening on the right.
59: Murty's diagonal ball forward is headed into the path of Saganowski by Mills, but the Pole's effort is deflected over.
60: The resulting corner is taken by Mills but Perry can't force his header on target.
63: QPR sub: Taarabt ON Vine OFF
63: Saints Sub: Rasiak ON Paterson OFF
64: Lallana tries to pick out Saganowski with a long ball but Fitz Hall intercepts to guide the ball back to Marshall.
65: Lancashire receives treatment as some players take advantage of the break in play to get some drinks.
66: QPR Subs: Stewart and Ephraim ON Hall and Routledge OFF
67: Balanta and Taarabt combine neatly before the Spurs loanee shoots over.
68: Huge shouts for a penalty from the Saints fans behind the goal as Mills' shot is deflected behind for a corner.
70: GOAL 3-0 Taarabt waltzes his way through the Saints side before placing a low shot into the bottom right past Davis' outstretched arm.
71: Taarabt is involved again as hegets away on the right to put a cross in, before play is interrupted by a clash of heads between Gillett and Rowlands, both are deemed ok to continue.
73: Taarabt disposses Lallana and Schneiderlin before firing wide of the left post.
74: Saints Sub: Thomson ON Saganowski OFF
76: QPR Subs: Ainsworth, Alberti and Brown ON Ramage, Mahon and Balanta OFF
77: Terrific link up with Hogan Ephraim sets Helguson away but the former Watford striker shoots high and wide of Davis' near post.
80: Jake Thomson's run down the right is ended by Lee Brown, from the resulting throw-in Thoomson wins himself a corner.
86: Gobern's cross causes problems as Rasiak tries to force a header goalwards which is pushed away by Marshall but he has to gather at the second attempt under pressure from Schneiderlin.
89: Pellicori connects with Ephraim's cross, but his header is at a comfortable height for Davis.
90: Two minutes of injury time are added on as Schneiderlin's long range free-kick is drilled straight into the wall.
Full Time: QPR 3-0 Saints
www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1740496,00.html
QPR Official Site - QPR 3, SOUTHAMPTON 0
Rangers finished their pre-season campaign in style, as goals from Kaspars Gorkss, Angelo Balanta and Adel Taarabt were enough to see off Southampton.
Gorkss put Rangers ahead as early as the ninth minute with a bullet header, before Balanta coolly slotted home before the interval.
Taarabt then sent home Rangers' third after a splendid run, in a match where Jim Magilton's men were more than value for their win.
R's manager Magilton made just two changes from the side that overcame Wycombe Wanderers by two goals to one in midweek, though both were enforced on him.
Trialist goalkeeper Andy Marshall replaced Radek Cerny, who missed the game owing to illness.
Elsewhere, Gary Borrowdale came in for Matt Connolly, who picked up an ankle knock in Rangers' 2-1 win on Tuesday at Adams Park.
The game was marked pre kick-off with a minute's silence for both Sir Bobby Robson and Antony Lillis, who both sadly passed away on Wednesday and Friday respectively.
As the rain lashed down on the Loftus Road playing surface in front of the watching Bernie Ecclestone, it was the R's who were faster out of the blocks with some neat, intricate play.
And indeed, it was such dominance that not only led to the first chance of the game - but football that also saw Rangers take an early opening lead in the ninth minute.
When Patrick Agyemang won a corner off the back of a Saints defender, Wayne Routledge sent over a teasing cross from the left.
The ball seemed to be rising above every man in the box - but not Gorkss, as the Latvian defender rose highest to expertly thump a header into the top right-hand corner of the net.
It was a goal that seemed to spur on the R's who at times played some lovely stuff along the deck, not least when only a last-ditch tackle from the Southampton defence stopped Rowan Vine from being through on goal after good play between himself, Borrowdale and Balanta.
Rangers in truth didn't have it all there on way - especially when after good work down the right from Saints full-back Lloyd James, Joseph Mills could only head wide of Marshall's left-hand post.
Though it was short lived, and the R's found themselves two goals to the good in the 34th minute.
After a cross from Borrowdale caused confusion within the Saints back four, the ball fell kindly to Balanta, who made no mistake from 10-yards and slotted home into the bottom right-hand corner to double Rangers' advantage just before the half-time whistle.
As unfamiliar as it may sound in pre-season, Rangers made just one change at the break - but nevertheless it was a substitution, as Heidar Helguson replaced Agyemang.
That though, did mean that Rangers were afforded the chance to carry on where they left off in the first half.
Indeed, that was the case early on in the second half when Routledge sent over a cross-field ball to Balanta that sat up lovely for the Colombian to hit on the half volley, but he could only shoot just over Kelvin Davis' crossbar.
Soon after, Balanta beat several challenges from the Saints backline to feed Vine out wide.
The Rangers front made teased his full-back before cutting in to cross dangerously into the area, but that effort deceived everyone and went safely out of play.
It wasn't exactly total dominance, though Rangers were having the lion's share of possession and indeed, the more chances.
This time after good work out wide from the newly introduced Hogan Ephraim, he fed Taarabt, but the Tottenham loanee could only blast high and wide of the target.
Moments later however, the Moroccan starlet wasn't to make the same mistake - scoring a quite fantastic goal to put the R's three up on 77 minutes.
Twisting and turning three men with relative ease, Taarabt found himself in space before calmly slotting home past Davies in the visitors' goal from the edge of the area.
Taarabt could have added a second when he received the ball some 20-yards out, but he shot just wide of the goal.
Though it wasn't to matter, as the R's ended their pre-season campaign with performance that gives great confidence to all ahead of next Saturday's opener at home to Blackpool.
QPR: Marshall, Ramage (Ainsworth 77), Borrowdale (Brown 77), Mahon (Alberti 77), Hall (Stewart 69), Gorkss, Routledge (Ephraim 69), Rowlands, Vine (Taarabt 63), Balanta (Pellicori 77), Agyemang (Helguson 46).
Subs not used: Putnins.
Goals: Gorkss (9), Balanta (34), Taarabt (70).
Southampton: Davis, James (Murty 46), Harding, Wotton (Gillett 46), Lancashire, Perry, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Saganowski (Thomson 75), Paterson (Rasiak 63), Mills (Gobern 81).
Subs not used: Bialkowski.
Referee: Mr P Crossley
Att: 3,164.
Southampton Official Site
QPR 3-0 Saints - Full Time
Posted on: Sat 01 Aug 2009
QPR: Marshall, Ramage, Borrowdale, Mahon, Hall, Gorkss, Routledge, Rowlands, Vine, Balanta, Agyemang. Subs: Ainsworth, Putnins, Alberti, Ephraim, Stewart, Brown, Helguson, Taarabt, Pellicori.
Saints: Davis, James, Harding, Wotton, Lancashire, Perry, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Saganowski, Paterson, Mills. Subs: Bialkowski, Gobern, Gillett, Thomson, Rasiak, Murty.
A minute's silence is held in memory of the late Sir Bobby Robson as the hosts prepare to kick things off at Loftus Road.
1: Lallana clips a ball in from the right which is plucked out of the air by Rangers 'keeper Andy Marshall.
4: A string of passes from Saints eventaully ends up with Lallana supplying Saganowski in the area, and with his back to goal, the Polish striker scuffs a shot wide of the right hand post.
Article continues
Advertisement
6: Paterson tries an early shot which fails to trouble Marshall. as the game continues at a leisurely pace,
7: A Wayne Routledge cross is cleared by a combination of Lloyd James and Olly Lancashire.
8: GOAL 1-0 Patrick Agyemang forces the first corner of the game for Jim Magilton's side and from the set-piece Routedge's in-swinger is met by the head of Kasapars Gorkss who firmly heads home for 1-0.
10: Angelo Balanta heads wide from Rowlands' cross as the hosts start to get a grip on the game.
12: A knock to Dan Harding leaves the former Ipswich man requiring treatment but he is soon back on his feet to help his side clear their lines.
14: Paterson, Schneiderlin and Mills link up before the latter smashes a shot high over the crossbar.
16: Offside against Saganowski as Mills tries to play him through on goal.
17: Balanta is left needing treatment after suffering a knock to his head, allowing a temporary break in play where Paul Wotton receives some instructions from the touchline.
20: Rowlands forces another corner but it is cleared before it reaches the Saints area.
22. Lallana's cross his headed goalwards by Mills but gathered easily by Marshall.
24: A busy couple of minutes for Lallana continues as he skips through the Rangers defence to create an opportunity for himself which is blocked, but then gets a second stab when Mills and Paterson combine to tee him up, but this time the England Under-21 star's effort goes over.
27: Ramage and Routledge combine well on the right for the hosts before the former's cross is headed clear by Lancashire.
28: Mills connects with a Lloyd James centre from the right but the youngster's header flies wide of the left post.
30: Perry guides the ball back to Davis under pressure from Agyemang who tried to capitalise from Routledge's through ball.
34: GOAL 2-0 Balanta who recovered from his earlier knock, collects a one-two with Rowlands before sliding the ball past Davis with the outside of his boot.
37: Paterson drifts a cross past the far post as the rain starts to fall in West London.
40: Morgan Schneiderlin floats a free-kick wide after Saganowski had been brought down 35 yards fromn goal.
43: Hesitation from Davis and Agyemang before the Saints 'keeper collects the ball under pressure from a delicate through ball from Ramage.
45: One minute of added time is announced as Lloyd James fires over from the right hand side.
Half Time: QPR 2-0 Saints
46: QPR Sub: Helguson ON Agyemnag OFF
46: Saints Sub: Gillett and Murty ON Wotton and James OFF
47: Balanta steadies himself to shoot before smashing a shot high and wide of Davis' goal for the first opportunity of the new half.
51: Lallana wins a free-kick on the right which is whipped in by Mills to the far post but collected off the head of Paterson by Marshall.
54: Lallana earns another free-kick after he is blocked off by Borrowdale as he and Murty try to force an opening on the right.
59: Murty's diagonal ball forward is headed into the path of Saganowski by Mills, but the Pole's effort is deflected over.
60: The resulting corner is taken by Mills but Perry can't force his header on target.
63: QPR sub: Taarabt ON Vine OFF
63: Saints Sub: Rasiak ON Paterson OFF
64: Lallana tries to pick out Saganowski with a long ball but Fitz Hall intercepts to guide the ball back to Marshall.
65: Lancashire receives treatment as some players take advantage of the break in play to get some drinks.
66: QPR Subs: Stewart and Ephraim ON Hall and Routledge OFF
67: Balanta and Taarabt combine neatly before the Spurs loanee shoots over.
68: Huge shouts for a penalty from the Saints fans behind the goal as Mills' shot is deflected behind for a corner.
70: GOAL 3-0 Taarabt waltzes his way through the Saints side before placing a low shot into the bottom right past Davis' outstretched arm.
71: Taarabt is involved again as hegets away on the right to put a cross in, before play is interrupted by a clash of heads between Gillett and Rowlands, both are deemed ok to continue.
73: Taarabt disposses Lallana and Schneiderlin before firing wide of the left post.
74: Saints Sub: Thomson ON Saganowski OFF
76: QPR Subs: Ainsworth, Alberti and Brown ON Ramage, Mahon and Balanta OFF
77: Terrific link up with Hogan Ephraim sets Helguson away but the former Watford striker shoots high and wide of Davis' near post.
80: Jake Thomson's run down the right is ended by Lee Brown, from the resulting throw-in Thoomson wins himself a corner.
86: Gobern's cross causes problems as Rasiak tries to force a header goalwards which is pushed away by Marshall but he has to gather at the second attempt under pressure from Schneiderlin.
89: Pellicori connects with Ephraim's cross, but his header is at a comfortable height for Davis.
90: Two minutes of injury time are added on as Schneiderlin's long range free-kick is drilled straight into the wall.
Full Time: QPR 3-0 Saints
www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1740496,00.html