Independent Rs Messageboard

[Steve Russell]

Report from the Club website...

RANGERS were beaten by the odd goal at Reading in our penultimate friendly of the pre-season
campaign.

Following a first half which saw QPR enjoy plenty of possession and chances, too, Martí Cifuentes’ R’s
were ultimately undone by Femi Azeez's 48th-minute strike for the hosts.

There was little to separate Rangers and Rubén Sellés’ League One Royals in a tight opening. Indeed, it took
some 20 minutes for the first notable effort of the game to arrive.

Shutterstock
Jimmy Dunne met a Lucas Andersen free-kick to force a smart low reaction save from Reading goalkeeper
Joel Pereira, before Steve Cook - who was later adjudged to have been offside - fired the rebound into the
side-netting.

Two minutes later, Jack Colback shot low at Pereira from 20 yards following a flurry of visiting passes.

By now, Rangers were enjoying the lion’s share of possession and, in the 25th minute, Frey blasted another
Andersen free-kick over.

Reading’s first real sight of goal came on the half-hour mark. Jayden Wareham dragged his shot wide after QPR
were caught in possession midway in their own half.

The best opportunities before half-time all arrived in the final minutes of the first half.

First, Alfie Lloyd turned his marker from Jake Clarke-Salter’s ball into him before shooting straight at Pereira.
Sam Field’s follow-up was deflected wide by the Reading defence.

Moments later, Michael Frey met Jimmy Dunne’s right-wing centre with his head to force Pereira into an excellent
low one-handed stop.

And Rangers went their closest yet when Paul Smyth latched onto Andersen’s cutting through pass before seeing
his 20-yard drive crash back off the crossbar.

Somehow, the first half ended without a goal.

Reading opened the scoring just three minutes into the closing period.

Kenneth Paal’s attempt to guide Amadou Mbengue’s hopeful ball forward back to Paul Nardi only served to play
in Azeez, who subsequently slid low beyond the R's goalkepeper from 12 yards.

With the home side having made a brighter start to the second half, Cifuentes looked to give recent signing Žan Celar
further match minutes when introducing the forward in place of Frey in the 58th minute.

Celar was involved as the R's so nearly levelled matters 10 minutes later. The Slovenian capitalised on a misplaced pass
before playing in Smyth, whose low effort forced Pereira into another impressive save down at his bottom right-hand post.

Two further QPR changes followed that chance, with Rayan Kolli and Lyndon Dykes replacing Smyth and Lloyd respectively.

Kolli thought he'd drawn Rangers level on 75 minutes after latching onto Cook's ball forward and smashing his shot past
Pereira - only to be denied by the offside flag.

Straight up the other end, Cook was again involved to head Azeez's deflected centre away from danger as it looked set
to loop in having beaten Nardi in the R's goal.

Ten minutes from time, Hevertton Santos, Elijah Dixon-Bonner and Liam Morrison replaced Andersen, Colback and Field.

In the 86th minute, second-half sub Dykes also limped off, with Ziyad Larkeche taking his place.

Ultimately, Rangers were unable to produce a late comeback, with the focus now switching to our final pre-season fixture.

Rangers host Premier League Brighton & Hove Albion in W12 next weekend.

QPR: Nardi, Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal, Field (Morrison 80), Colback (Dixon-Bonner 80), Smyth (Kolli 69), Andersen
(Santos 80), Lloyd (Dykes 69) (Larkeche 86), Frey (Celar 58).

Subs not used: Walsh, Cannon.

[Steve Russell]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqZrSOGwlWk

[steveqpr881]

I found it a very worrying performance by the Rs;
as your report says, we had plenty of possession - but no goals to show for it.
Losing to 2 Prem sides, fair enough; but being beaten by what was a poor League 1 side last season
(& they have hardly been able to make any signings) means a long, hard season ahead of us, IMO.

My only consolation was that I was sat very close to the legendary Tommy Collins & we had a good chat at half-time.

[Steve Russell]

Attendance 4,332.
I couldn't make it but there seemed to be a vg turnout of 1,500+
R's fans?

[steveqpr881]

Think our allo was about 1,100 - so a poor turnout by the Phonies.
Walking home after the match, a Reading fan saw my shirt & gave me a bit of stick;
to which I replied that our team didn't turn up, and neither did Reading's fans!
He could only agree.
Plastic hoops, plastic fans

[Steve Russell]

Initial allocation of 1,290 sold out, others could pay on the day...

[steveqpr881]

They should have given us more, we would probably have half-filled their stadium.
I was talking to loads of my Reading-supporting friends before the game, none of them said they were going!
When I said that the club needed the money (they keep getting points deductions for not paying taxes, wages etc)
all I got was excuses. As I said - plastic hoops, plastic fans