Two American Goalies in QPR's Reserve 16...Mancienne England U-21 Call up

-
QPR Reserves drew 1-1 at home to Southampton. In goal, was QPR's American goalie, Matt Pickens. On the subs bench: QPR's other American goalie, Reece Crowther .

QPR's loanee from Chelsea, Michael Mancienne is again in the England U-21 squad. (No place for Dexter Blackstock).
Full Squad: ENGLAND UNDER-21 SQUAD v Poland (25 March, Molineux): Goalkeepers: Hart (Manchester City), Heaton (Manchester United). Defenders: Dann, Fox (both Coventry City), Gardner (Aston Villa), Mancienne (QPR, on loan), Mattock (Leicester City), Onuoha (Manchester City), Shawcross (Stoke City). Midfielders: Cattermole, A Johnson (both Middlesbrough), M Johnson (Manchester City), Leadbitter (Sunderland), O'Hara (Tottenham Hotspur), Surman (Southampton). Forwards: Campbell (Hull City, on loan), Derbyshire (Blackburn Rovers), Jerome (Birmingham City), Miller (West Bromwich Albion), Moore (West Bromwich, on loan). Independent


QPR Official Site: - ALL SQUARE FOR RESERVES
Rangers Reserves drew 1-1 with Southampton in a thoroughly entertaining Pontin's Holidays Combination League fixture at Loftus Road this evening (Tuesday).
The hosts took the lead early in the first half through Angelo Balanta, but the Saints drew level shortly after when Cedric Baseya headed home from six yards.
The R's can be grateful to debut-boy Matt Pickens for ensuring a share of the spoils, as the Rangers keeper pulled off three stunning point-blank saves after the break to keep the visitors at bay.
Pickens, yet to feature for the First Team following his recent arrival on a short-term contract until the end of the season, frustrated Southampton with some excellent stops, most notably in the closing minutes to deny Matthew Paterson who looked to have scored on the half-volley from 12 yards.
The Rangers keeper was equal to it, however, and brought rapturous applause for his stop from the South Africa Road Stand.
QPR took the lead on seven minutes when Terry Smith - who worked tirelessly in the middle of the park alongside Matt O'Brien - slid a perfect through ball for the on-rushing Balanta.
The Colombian forward made no mistake with just Saints keeper Matej Rondos to beat, as he coolly found the bottom corner from 16 yards.
Unfortunately the hosts' lead was short-lived. Southampton worked an excellent opening with some slick one-touch football before Josh Dutton-Black picked out Cedric Baseya with a pin-point delivery from the left wing.

The latter gave Pickens no chance, as he stooped to head home the equaliser from close range.

As the half wore on, it was the visitors who looked the more likely to add to their tally, and on 33 minutes they would have done so but for an excellent stop from Pickens to deny Baseya from distance.

After the break, it was end-to-end action as both sides, to their credit, looked for the winner.

Balanta went close twice, but pulled his efforts wide, while substitute Aaron Morgan saw his shot from a tight angle deflected away for a corner.

At the other end, Pickens was the star of the show as he did his best to keep the Saints out. And when he was beaten from eight yards following a goal-mouth scramble, Billy Coyne was on hand to clear off the line.

Romone Rose nearly won it in the closing stages with what would have been a stunning solo effort.

After picking the ball up in the right-back position, Rose raced the length of the field before firing his effort just wide of the far post.

QPR: Matt Pickens, Billy Coyne, Chris Barker, Matt O'Brien, Josh Ford, Zesh Rehman, Angelo Balanta, Terry Smith, Antonio German, Romone Rose, Chris Arthur.
Subs: Reece Crowther, Lee Brown, Michael Wright, Aaron Morgan

Southampton: Matej Rondos, Jamie Hatch, Oscar Gobern, Lloyd James, Oliver Lancashire, Jake Thomson, Adam Lallana, Matthew Paterson, Cedric Baseya, Andrew Giallombardo, Josh Dutton-Black
Subs: Kayne McLaggon, Liam Hogan, Ian Jones, Lukas Stiklakis QPR