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Stevenage....
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 11:53 am
by Steve Russell
From the Club....
'THE JULIEN Stéphan era gets underway on Saturday as Rangers prepare to welcome Stevenage to
TSG Training Centre for our first pre-season friendly.
Kick-off is at 12pm tomorrow - the game is being played behind closed doors but you can watch the action
live on QPR+, with full information below.
Stevenage - who finished mid-table in League One last season - reappointed Alex Revell as their manager this
summer to replace the outgoing Steve Evans.
This is the first of six pre-season fixtures for Rangers, who travel to Girona, Spain next week for a 10-day training camp.
New head coach Stéphan could hand QPR debuts to Kealey Adamson, Amadou Mbengue and Kwame Poku for tomorrow's
visit of Stevenage, who have all joined us this summer.
Jake Clarke-Salter, Alfie Lloyd, Rayan Kolli, Nicolas Madsen and Michael Frey will not be involved this weekend, however.
Clarke-Salter and Lloyd are continuing their rehabs as they recover from complex surgeries during 2024/25.
The pair are anticipated to return in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign, subject to their current rehab progressions.
Kolli had an extended 2024/25 campaign due to his involvement in the semi-final of the Premier League Cup.
Following his close season, the club are carefully managing his training load as part of an individual programme as he
works towards match fitness.
Madsen and Frey picked up minor knocks during training. They are anticipated to return to full training during
pre-season preparations.'
Re: Stevenage....
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 11:55 am
by Steve Russell
1st half starting line-up...
Walsh, Dunne, Cook, Akindileni, Esquerdinha, Dembele, Morgan,
Varane, Chair, Richards, Kelman.
Re: Stevenage....
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 11:56 am
by Steve Russell
Winning 4-0 ht.....
Goals from; Dembele 2, Chair & Richards.
Re: Stevenage....
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 12:33 pm
by Steve Russell
2nd half line-up...
Salamon, Adamson, Mbengue, Morrison, Larkeche, Poku,
Field, Vale, Smyth, Sutton, Celar
Re: Stevenage....
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 12:46 pm
by Steve Russell
Celar & Poku subbed with 15 mins to go....
Bennie & Dillon replaced them
Re: Stevenage....
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 12:48 pm
by Steve Russell
5-0 ft.....
Harvey Vale the scorer..
Re: Stevenage....
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 1:09 pm
by Steve Russell
Due to a slight finger injury, Paul Nardi watched from the
sidelines.....
Thanks to Simon do the updates..
Re: Stevenage....
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 2:13 pm
by Steve Russell
From the Club...
'QPR kicked off life under the reign of head coach Julien Stéphan with a comfortable 5-0 victory over
Stevenage Borough at the TSG Elite Training Performance Centre on Saturday afternoon.
A first half brace from Kaddy Dembele (4’ & 35’) as well as efforts from Ilias Chair (30’) and Taylor Richards (31’)
set Rangers on their way, with Harvey Vale’s (80’) late strike wrapping up a productive start to the 2025/26 pre-season
campaign.
In a clash which saw Rangers field two separate sides on either side of half time new signings Kwame Poku, Amadou Mbengue
and Kealey Adamson would feature for the first time, as they were given 45-minute runouts apiece, whilst Vale also made
his first appearance in a blue white hooped shirt.
Rangers’ first opportunity would arrive on four minutes, Ilias Chair and Kaddy Dembele linking up well, with the Moroccan
eventually curling his effort wide from the edge of the box.
However, with ten minutes on the clock the R’s would have Joe Walsh to thank denying Stevenage on two occasions in
quick succession with a couple of very smart saves.
With 15 minutes on the clock Julien Stéphan’s side would take the lead courtesy of Dembele’s first of the afternoon.
Tim Akindileni’s long ball eventually finding the former Blackpool man courtesy of a fortuitous defensive header who
calmly rounded Ashby Hammond in the visiting goal before tucking home.
Having taken the lead, Rangers continued to control possession and would double their advantage on the half hour mark.
The influential Dembele again involved, this time drawing a foul on the edge of the box, with Chair stepping up and
producing a moment of quality with a stunning free-kick.
QPR’s third of the afternoon would arrive just a minute later.
Dembele’s pressing once again rewarded, this time teeing up Richards who coolly converted with a clever outside of
the foot strike.
The goals would keep on coming with Dembele slotting home his second and Rangers’ fourth of the afternoon on
35 minutes.
A great team move involving Chair, Charlie Kelman and ultimately Dembele wrapping up a positive first 45 minutes.
Heading into the second half Rangers fielded a completely different XI, with Poku, Mbengue, Adamson and Vale all
introduced for their first R’s appearances.
Academy product Emmerson Sutton was also among those brought on for the second 45 minutes, whilst Zan Celar
made his long awaited return following his prolonged spell on the sidelines.
Rangers would start the second half bright.
Paul Smyth and Celar both forcing the Stevenage keeper into action, before Sam Field fired wide.
The R’s would continue to threaten with Celar and Vale both forcing the visiting keeper into action, but as we
approached the 70th minute it remained 4-0 to the Super Hoops.
Rangers thought they had their fifth on 73 minutes, an impressive driving run from Vale and clever pass falling to Poku
who converted only for the offside flag to go up.
15 minutes from time, Cian Dillon and Daniel Bennie would be introduced – replacing Celar and Poku.
And five minutes later, Vale would produce a splendid strike and the Super Hoops’ fifth of the afternoon.
The young midfielder driving at the visiting defence before lashing a wonderful effort past the helpless Boro keeper.
In the end Rangers were worthy 5-0 victors in what was a productive opening to our pre-season campaign.
We will now head to Girona, as we prepare to face CD Castellón on Saturday, kick-off 11am BST.
QPR (first half): Walsh, Dunne, Cook, Akindileni, Esquerdinha, Dembélé, Varane, Morgan, Chair, Richards, Kelman.
QPR (second half): Salamon, Adamson, Mbengue, Morrison, Larkeche, Poku (Bennie 77’), Vale, Field, Smyth,
Celar (Dillon 77’), Sutton.'
Re: Stevenage....
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 3:15 pm
by Steve Russell
Apparently Osman Kakay appeared as a trialist for the visitors?