QPR Set for Falkirk...Reserves Lose to Hayes...Youth Draw at Chelsea...Ex-QPR Birthday...Flashback to Charlton Friendly

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QPR are in Scotland to train and play two games. Today, QPR meet Falkirk. On Tuesday they play Kilmarnock, before returning for their one game at Loftus Road, the following week - against Chievo Verona.. QPR Reserves/U-21 lost to Hayes and Yeading; while an U-18 team drew at Chelsea. And today is the 35th birthday of QPR's former much-loved striker, Dean Sturridge.. Meanwhile today's Sun has Birmingham supposedly offering Crystal Palace 2 million pounds for Ben Watson
- And a "Flashback:" Three years ago, Ian Holloway's QPR got crushed 3-0 by Charlton (Darren Bent hattrick): Just Martin Rowlands remains from the QPR team that played (plus Cole out-on-loan): Cole (Henderson 45), Ukah (Bignot 45), Rose (Hislop 45), Bean (Cook 45 (Brown 57)), Shittu, Shimmin, Rowlands, Bircham (Doherty 45), Furlong (Nygaard 62), Santos (Gallen 45), Brown (Miller 45
Meanwhile, ex-QPR Les Ferdinand is expressing concern....about Spurs! - Ferdinand Expresses Concern


FALKIRK Official Site- PREVIEW QPR SET TO TEST BAIRNS
Falkirk face a much stiffer pre-season test on Saturday when they face Ian Dowie’s Championship side, Queens Park Rangers, at the Stadium. Rangers have had new blood pumped into them via an ownership change and they will present formidable opposition for the Bairns.
Boss John Hughes realises they will be a stern test, “This match provides us with another step up in our preparations and the game will be a tough 90 minutes for my team. The pre-season programme is going to plan and the new players have integrated well within the squad. We are now looking to transform that into good performances which in turn will generate good results.”
Hughes was concious of the need to peak at the right time for the SPL campaign, “Pre season games are all about fitness levels and getting the match sharpness right in time for the game against Rangers in two weeks. I’m hoping for a good turnout, with the fans giving the boys strong encouragement against Queens Park Rangers.”
Injuries have plagued the camp since the return to training this season but Hughes reamained calm and focussed. “ The injuries to most of the players are not really serious but more of a niggle. It will be touch and go tomorrow for some of those who haven’t featured but there is no way I’ll chance anything if they’re not match fit and risk something more serious.”
Hughes added, “I’ll wait until the last minute before I make any decisions on the starting eleven.”
Falkirk have met QPR twice in friendlies at Brockville – firstly in 1984 when Alan McGonigal cancelled out Clive Allen’s strike in a 1-1 draw, followed by an encounter in 1989 when a strong Rangers team, which included David Seaman and our own Andy Gray, won by 2-0.
Mike McCurry will take charge of the game which has 3 p.m. kick-off. Fans should note it is pay-at-the-gate. Falkirk

Also -- Falkirk Official Site
A special 24-page Souvenir programme will be on sale at the QPR game …>>>
Put together by Falkirk’s new Media team, the publication details the QPR squad in depth and there are features on QPR legends, Simon Stainrod, Terry Fenwick and Andy Gray. Michael White looks back at out two previous encounters with the men from Loftus Road as well as memories of the Coventry Texaco Cup matches in 1971. Jim Sneddon brings you a complete round-up of all our friendlies since the year 2000 and there’s also a look back at Tuesday night’s Ross County game. Falkirk Preview


QPR - HAYES & YEADING 2-1 QPR RESERVES
A young QPR Reserve side went down 2-1 at Hayes & Yeading this evening, as the hosts grabbed two late goals to turn defeat into victory.
In a closely-fought first half, both sides had chances to take the lead. The R's were guilty of missing a couple of opportunities, while at the other end Hoops keeper Nicky Bulmer pulled off some excellent stops to keep Hayes & Yeading at bay, with a notably good double save.
Level at the break, it was the visitors who eventually broke the deadlock on the hour mark. Chris Arthur did well to create space down the left wing before picking out Christian Nanetti at the far post, and the young winger coolly slotted home after quickly bringing the ball under control.
The R's failed to build on that advantage, however, and instead sat back, inviting their hosts to come forward. And that's exactly what Hayes & Yeading did.
It looked as though QPR would emerge from the game victorious, however, when their Blue Square South Division opponents failed to find a way through. But two goals in the closing five minutes turned this match on its head, and it was Hayes & Yeading who nicked the victory.
In the absence of Gareth Ainsworth - who is with the first team squad in Scotland - coach David Rouse took charge of the side, and he told www.qpr.co.uk: "In the first half we had a number of good chances, and we should have done better.
"The final ball let us down. Having said that, Nicky Bulmer was excellent for us at the other end.
"After our goal, we sat back. It was a lesson for the younger lads in how to kill a game off.
"You could see that as the match wore on, Hayes & Yeading were probably going to nick something. And that's what they did.
"But this was a good exercise for our players, and they will have certainly learned from it."
QPR: Nicky Bulmer, Joe Ostler, Chris Barker, Ryan Myers, Lee Brown, Chris Arthur, Matt O'Brien, Josh Ford, Christian Nanetti, Antonio German, Chris Flood. QPR

See also: Tony Gibson/Loft For Words Match Report


[Note: The Chelsea report incorrectly listed Molloy as scorer of all three goals]

QPR Official Site CHELSEA U18 3-3 QPR U18
Rangers' Under-18's travelled to Cobham this afternoon for their second pre-season friendly, and came away with a performance and result to be proud of, according to manager Steve Brown.
Missing Antonio German and Christian Nanetti, who were called up to the Reserves for their friendly at Hayes & Yeading, Brown's side could have considered themselves short of firepower against their Premier League opponents.
However, Danny Fernandez (2) and Javonne Molloy stepped up to the mark, scoring the goals that resulted in a share of the spoils.
Despite Chelsea having the lion's share of possession in the first half, it was Rangers who reached the half-time interval with a narrow advantage.
Andrew Perring's persistence on the touchline led to him pulling the ball back for Fernandez, who applied the finishing touch with ease.
Rangers could easily have doubled or even trebled their lead in the first period, twice catching Chelsea with swift counter attacks.
The first came when full back Aaron Waters broke into the home team's penalty area before firing a shot across goal. Unfortunately, his effort hit the far post and rebounded into the keeper's hands.
Shortly afterwards, Molloy broke through but took his shot too early, resulting in an easy save by the home keeper.
The second half began with Chelsea continuing to have more of the ball, and they finally made their possession count just after the hour mark when they grabbed an equaliser.
The R's battled back, however, and Waters again found himself in the thick of the action, setting up Fernandez for Rangers' second goal. The striker turned brilliantly under pressure before firing home for his brace.
With 20 minutes to go, the home side made a series of changes, and the introduction of fresh players turned the game in Chelsea's favour. With ten minutes remaining, they equalised for the second time before taking the lead on 85 minutes.
Brown's side were not to be beaten though, and Molloy struck in the final minute with a decisive finish to earn his side a deserved draw.
Brown was delighted with his team's performance, especially after their defeat against Aston Villa six days earlier.
"The boys responded well," he told www.qpr.co.uk. "They were all disappointed after last week's showing and we've worked hard this week on the areas that let us down against Villa. That paid off today.
"Sides like Chelsea are always going to have a lot of the ball, and we must learn to be patient and make the most of opportunities when we get them."
Brown also felt his side were unlucky to only be one up at half time, adding: "We had two excellent breaks, and should really have capitalised on one, if not both of them." QPR


Ex-QPR Dean Sturridge Turns 35
QPR signed Sturridge on a free transfer from Wolves in March 2005 (apparently without giving him a medical). Made 6 + 5 League appearances without scoring. (Although did score for QPR in their pre-season Ibiza Tournament) Sturridge Joins QPR Released by QPR, joined Kidderminster. - Career Stats


Flashback Three Years:
July 26, 2005: QPR OFFICIAL SITE MATCH REPORT: QPR 0 CHARLTON 3
A Darren Bent hat-trick was the undoing of Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road this evening.The former Ipswich striker netted twice in the first half before converting a penalty with ten minutes to go to complete his own personal milestone.But in truth, Charlton were the better side all over the pitch and thoroughly deserved a comfortable pre-season victory.Ian Holloway will be happy for the opportunity to give a large proportion of his squad a good run out against Premiership opposition and he will doubtless have learned from the experience.
Holloway gave a run out to Ugo Ukah, Dominic Shimmin and the well again Marc Bircham.Between the sticks, Jake Cole was given a rare start against Simon Royce's former club after the stopper suffered a back problem last week.
It was Georges Santos playing up front who had Rangers' first effort on goal. Making his way into the box, he squeezed the ball round Stephen Andersen in the Charlton goal and picked it up on the other side.With a dink towards goal, Santos' effort was goalbound but for the last ditch clearance from Jonathan Spector.But it was the Addicks who took the lead when a fine passing move between Danny Murphy and Dennis Rommedahl finished with Darren Bent shooting from the edge of the box and landing in the opposite corner of the net.
Up the other end of the park, Aaron Brown was trying to get Rangers back on level terms, but his shot blazed over the bar.Charlton were not content with sitting on their lead and were still pushing on up front. Danny Murphy hit a vicious volley just wide of the target after 20 minutes as the Addicks looked to extend their lead.Three minutes later, Murphy dispossessed Martin Rowlands in midfield and tried an audacious lob from 35 yards that sailed over a relieved Jake Cole's cross bar.Charlton doubled their lead three minutes before the break when Rommedahl's ball across the face of goal was met by Bent.From a tight angle, he fired the ball goalwards and the ball ricocheted off the unfortunate Cole before looping over the goal line.

Ian Holloway made multiple changes in the second half in a bid to see as much of his squad as possible.Rommedahl got the second half off to yet another attacking start, bending his effort in towards goal from the right wing but just missing the target.

Dan Shittu then had the fans in the lower Loft ducking for cover when he sent in a venomous 35 yard effort that crashed back off the cross bar.Charlton nearly added to their lead with 18 minutes to go when Bent's cross was met by a rising first time effort from Rommedahl.But substitute keeper, Wayne Henderson got a hand to it and deflected the ball onto the cross bar when it appeared destined for the back of the net.Charlton were then given the chance to extend their lead further when Marcus Bent stepped up to the penalty spot after Marcus Bignot fouled Spector in the area.Bent was not going to be denied his hat-trick and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.There was no coming back from this scoreline for Rangers, but the run out for the majority of Holloway's squad will no doubt have served it's purpose two weeks before the Championship season starts.
Rangers: Cole (Henderson 45), Ukah (Bignot 45), Rose (Hislop 45), Bean (Cook 45 (Brown 57)), Shittu, Shimmin, Rowlands, Bircham (Doherty 45), Furlong (Nygaard 62), Santos (Gallen 45), Brown (Miller 45)
Charlton: Andersen, Young, Hreidarsson (Fortune 76), Kishishev, Perry, Spector, Rommedahl, Murphy (Thomas 62), Bent, Smertin (Holland 71), AmbroseSubs: Fortune, Keilly, Hughes, Euell, Sam, Jeffers, JohanssonScorers: Bent 17, 43, 80Att: 3,256
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