Wycombe 0 QPR 1 - Reports and Comments

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QPR OFFICIAL SITE - JOHN GREGORY POST MATCH COMMENTS
TOUGH WORK-OUT - Sat 28 Jul 2007
Rangers boss John Gregory was pleased with the work-out his players got against a determined Wycombe side this afternoon.
Following the 1-0 win, the R's manager told www.qpr.co.uk: "The scoreline probably flattered us a little bit. I would have liked to see us win more comfortably, but it was a worthwhile exercise.
"I want us to have difficult times and for things not to run smoothly. It's a good test.
"We've got a few problems that need to be ironed out.
"We looked a little disjointed as the new players bedded in but, in general, they settled well.
"They've possibly got to get used to how we play, but I thought John Curtis and Simon Walton both did well."
Lee Camp received an excellent reception from the travelling Rangers fans at the start of the match, and he reminded Gregory - if he needed reminding - what a great keeper he is with a stunning second-half save.
The gaffer acknowledged: "He's got legendary status written all over him, and he's only 22!
"His save in the second half was incredible, and right out of the Lee Camp text book.
"Mick Harford said to me at one point, 'How much did we pay for him again?' I think Mick was taken aback by just how good Lee is.
"We've got two more run-outs against Harrow and Fulham, which will finish us off nicely ahead of the first game of the season against Bristol City." QPR

QPR OFFICIAL SITE ROWL WITH IT
Posted on: Sat 28 Jul 2007
An inch-perfect free-kick from Martin Rowlands earned QPR their first win of pre-season against Wycombe at Adams Park.
In a game of few scoring opportunities, Rowlands settled the contest with a free-kick that dipped over the defensive wall and into the top corner.
The early chances fell to the home side, with Scott McGleish attempting a cheeky chip from 35 yards out, but it was easily fielded by Camp.
The new Rangers number one - warmly applauded by the travelling fans when he jogged on to the field - denied McGleish again soon afterwards, keeping out an overhead kick.
An early slip from another QPR debutant, Simon Walton, nearly let Wycombe in again, but John Sutton fired his shot wastefully straight at Camp.
For Rangers, Ray Jones might have done better with a header from Martin Rowlands' free-kick, but guided the chance wide.
Without much service coming his way, Jones let his frustration show when he was booked for a late challenge on Leon Johnson.
But when the Rs did get a chance five minutes before the interval, they made it count. Wycombe conceded a free-kick 25 yards out and Rowlands flighted his shot perfectly into the roof of the net, out of the reach of Wanderers' keeper Scott Shearer.
Wanderers almost hit back immediately as Camp tipped over a looping McGleish header over the bar, but Rangers went in with the advantage at half-time.
And only the woodwork prevented Wycombe from levelling soon after the restart as Sutton's drive bounced off the bar with Camp clawing at thin air.
John Gregory opted to freshen up his side with a triple substitution, bringing on Sam Timoska and Stefan Moore, as well as striker Ben Sahar for his QPR debut.
But Wycombe continued to press and Jermaine Easter got past Timoska to force another vital save from Camp.
And, with 10 minutes to go, Easter broke the offside trap and found himself with just replacement goalkeeper Jake Cole to beat, but hesitated far too long and Timoska lunged in to take the ball off his toes.
Lewis Christon headed over late on from a corner, but Cole remained relatively untroubled as Rangers held firm to secure the win.
Wycombe: Scott Shearer (Jamie Young), Sam Stockley (Russell Martin), Craig Woodman (Chris Palmer), Andre Boucaud (Matt Bloomfield), David McCracken (Lewis Christon), Leon Johnson, Martin Bullock (Robert Rice), Sergio Torres (Stefan Oakes), John Sutton, Scott McGleish (Jermaine Easter), Tom Williams (Derek Duncan).
QPR: Lee Camp (Jake Cole 65), Michael Mancienne, Dominic Shimmin (Sam Timoska 56), Damion Stewart, John Curtis (Zesh Rehman 79), Danny Nardiello (Stefan Moore 56), Adam Bolder, Simon Walton (Stefan Bailey 86), Martin Rowlands, Dexter Blackstock (Marc Nygaard 79), Ray Jones(Ben Sahar 56). Att: 3,045 (away fans 1,082) QPR

WYCOMBE OFFICIAL SITE
ROWLANDS RETURNS TO STEAL THE SHOW
Sat 28 Jul 2007 - By Dale Hurman
Former Wycombe Wanderers midfielder Martin Rowlands returned to Adams Park and shown as his Queens Park Rangers nicked a 1-0 win.
Rowlands scored the only goal of the game on 41 minutes, curling home a sweet right-foot shot direct from a free-kick. It was the visitors first shot on target for the Championship outfit who were made to defend for much of the game.
The home side kicked off the first half and the busy McGleish soon robbed Mancienne and fed the ball to triallist Boucaud who fired wide.
Rangers goalkeeper Lee Camp was called into action on a number of times but dealt comfortably with everything that was thrown at him.
The first half saw some fine touches from both Boucaud and Torres as they teased their opponents with their fancy footwork that was warmly applauded by the appreciative crowd. Rangers striker Ray Jones, courted by Colchester United in the summer, was rightly booked after two crude challenges, the first on Woodman followed a minute later on Johnson.
Torres fired wide after excellent play between Martin Bullock and the latest Blues' signing Tom Williams. The winning goal came when David McCracken went to ground and handled the ball. Rowlands ensured the Blues' were fully punished.
Bloomfield, one of five players introduced at half-time, was back to his tenacious best in midfield and six minutes into the second half he played a fine throw ball to Easter, the ball ran loose to Sutton who was thwarted by Camp.
The Blues nearly found an equalising goal when John Sutton fired in a spectacular shot from twenty yards which brought out an out-standing one handed save from Lee Camp.
Bullock then capitalised on a mistake by Curtis, cut inside before firing his shot just wide of the far post. On the hour mark Williams put Easter through but his low shot was saved one-handed by Camp.
There were a number of changes from both sides in the second half and naturally the pace of the game slowed. Martin Rowlands showed his skill with a couple of mazy runs that brought a couple of corners but Rangers never seriously tested Young in the Wanderers goal.
With 9 minutes remaining Stefan Oakes played a delicious through ball which found Jermaine Easter clear and with the goal at his mercy. Unfortunately he dwelt on the ball just a second too long and Rangers substitute Sam Timoska saved the day with a crucial tackle.
Leon Johnson sent a late header over from a Russell Martin corner and Rangers held on to the win.
Despite defeat it was an encouraging performance from the Blues and they can now look forward to two more difficult friendlies before the season starts for real.
Wycombe Wanderers: Shearer (Young 62), Stockley (Martin HT), Woodman (Palmer HT), Boucaud (Bloomfield HT), McCracken (Christon 62), Bullock (Rice 62), Torres (Oakes HT), Sutton, McGleish (Easter HT), Williams (Duncan 62). Subs not used: Gregory, Cadmore, Massey and Cattell.
Queens Park Rangers: Camp (Cole 65), Mancienne, Shimmin (Timoska 56), Stewart, Curtis (Rehman 79), Nardiello (Moore 56), Bolder, Walton (Bailey 86), Rowlands, Blackstock (Nygaard 79), Jones (Sahar 56). Subs: Simmonds, Ward, St Aimie.
Booked: Jones 29 Goalscorers: Rowlands 41, Attendance: 3,045 (1,082 from Queens Park Rangers)...Wycombe

BUCKS FREE PRESS -Blues unveil tenth signing in Rangers defeat - By Alan Feldberg

WANDERERS unveiled their tenth signing of the season in this afternoon's 1-0 friendly defeat against QPR at Adams Park.
Tom Williams played an hour on the left side of Blues' midfield after signing a two-year contract with the club on Thursday afternoon.
The 27-year-old was out of contract at Swansea at the end of last season and said coming to Adams Park was a simple decision.
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He said: "I've been speaking to Paul all summer and have been very impressed by what he's been saying.
"He's a progressive manager and I'm sure he'll take the club and me on."
Former Wanderer Martin Rowlands scored the only goal of the game, curling a 22-yard free-kick directly past Scott Shearer after 41 minutes.
The hosts had looked the more threatening up to that point, and created three great chances in the second period.
Jermaine Easter wasted two of them while John Sutton, with just about his only notable contribution, thrashed a volley against the woodwork.
Manager Lambert said: "There was not much between the two sides. "The way our lads played the game was excellent." Bucks Free Press