Another Pre-Season Defeat for QPR

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Doesn't really matter; but still...

Dowie's Post-Match Comments
QPR Official Site -SHAPING UP
Iain Dowie believes Rangers are in good shape to kick-start the new Championship campaign in style, despite Saturday's 2-1 defeat to AC Chievo Verona.
The Serie A newcomers edged a tight contest by the odd goal at Loftus Road, but Dowie was satisfied with his side's overall display.
"It would have been nice to end our pre-season campaign with a victory, but the real proof in the pudding will be next Saturday against Barnsley," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"I thought it was a very even match and they just shaded it by the odd goal.
"The second goal we conceded was very poor from a defensive point of view. You can't take anything away from the player's strike, but we should have stopped them from getting the ball to him in the first place.
"They edged the first half, but I thought we grew stronger as the match wore on."
QPR Official Site


QPR Official Site - QPR 1 AC CHIVEO VERONA 2
Dexter Blackstock's second half spot-kick proved in vain, as Rangers succumbed to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Serie A newcomers AC Chievo Verona.
On the day Rangers unveiled the returning Lee Cook, Blackstock bagged his second goal of the R's pre-season campaign with a re-taken spot kick, after his initial effort was comfortably saved by Lorenzo Squizzi.
Earlier, Erjan Bogdani gave Chievo the lead with a tidy close range finish on the half hour, before Simone Bentivoglio doubled the Italians' advantage early in the second period.
Iain Dowie handed four of his new signings their home debuts.
Radek Cerny, Peter Ramage, Kaspars Gorkss and Emmanuel Ledesma all started, while former Chievo midfielder Matteo Alberti was named amongst the substitutes.
After an even opening, it was Chievo's Antimo Iunco who went closest to breaking the deadlock in the fifth minute.
Having evaded the offside trap, the left sided midfielder saw his deft chipped effort beat Radek Cerny, only to see Kaspars Gorkss clear the ball of the line.
Rangers were by no means second best though, with Ledesma firing a yard over from fully 25-yards with a sweet left footed strike.
Ledesma played provider midway through the half, delivering an expert corner kick into the heart of the Chievo six-yard box, which Damien Delaney bundled home.
Unfortunately for the Irishman, experienced referee Howard Webb signalled for a foul and the effort was chalked out.

The deadlock was eventually breached at the other end on the half hour, as Bogdani expertly slotted home from close range, after Iunco dinked a clever pass into the striker's path.

Angelo Balanta enjoyed a productive first period and when he got to the by-line in the 37th minute, his cross found Dexter Blackstock, whose far post header flew wide from six yards.

Rangers began the second period on the front foot, with Fitz Hall firing inches wide moments after the resumption with a blockbusting 35-yard half-volley.

But Chievo made it two on the hour, when Bentivoglio smashed home an unstoppable 20-yard drive, after the R's were punished for switching off from a corner kick.

The lively Ledesma went close with a curling free-kick two minutes later, before substitute Alberti was sent tumbling to ground inside the box and Mr Webb pointed to the spot.

Despite Ledesma's best efforts to prize the ball away from Blackstock, it was the former Saints man who stepped up, only to see his initial effort saved by Lorenzo Squizzi.

The officials gave the R's front-man a reprieve though, awarding a re-take for encroachment, and Blackstock made no mistake this time, firing low to Squizzi's right for his second goal of the R's pre-season campaign.

Buoyed by their goal, Rangers went in search of an equaliser, with the towering Hall heading wide with a stooping eight yard header.

QPR: Cerny (Camp 85), Ramage, Delaney, Mahon (Bolder 76), Hall, Gorkss (Stewart 77), Agyemang, Leigertwood (Ainsworth 77), Blackstock (Di Carmine 73), Balanta (Alberti 59), Ledesma (Rose 83).

Goals: Blackstock 69

AC Chievo Verona: Squizzi, Mantovani (Scardina 83), Mandelli, Malago (Frey 75), Maroclini (Rigoni 72), Bentivoglio, De Oliveira (D'Anna 51), Iunco (Farias 57), Rickler, Bogdani, Italiano.

Subs: Aldegani, Gasparetto, Moro, Sorrentino, Pellissier, Sable, Grippo.

Goals: Bogdani 30, Bentivoglio 60

Yellow Cards: Malago 69

Referee: Mr H M Webb QPR