Mancienne Makes His England U-21 Debut...Blackstock Doesn't....QPR Reserves Lose to Brighton

-
QPR's on loan Defender, Michael Mancienne made his England U-21 debut, coming on as substitute. Dexter Blackstock remained on the bench as England drew 1-1 versus Romania. BBC Also: QPR Official site re Mancienne/Blackstock

A strong QPR Reserves team lost to Brighton 2-1 (Baidoo scoring for QPR)
QPR: Cole, Bignot, Barker, Maguire, Shimmin, Cullip, Baidoo, Bailey, Nygaard, Rose, St Aimie. Subs: Timoska, Crowther, Goode, Howell, Arthur

QPR Official Site BAIDOO'S STRIKE IN VAIN -

A controversial goal midway through the second half ensured Rangers' Pontins Holidays Combination League campaign began with defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at Worthing FC.
The Seagulls triumphed 2-1, when Joe Gatting - who bagged five goals when these two sides met last season - ignored the injured Romone Rose and raced clear of the R's back four to slot home the winner.
Earlier, Nathan Elder opened the scoring early on for the hosts, only for Shabazz Baidoo to equalise on the stroke of half-time.
After a keenly contested opening, Rangers went close in the ninth minute, when Kieron St Aimie cut in from the left and saw his shot smothered by Brighton custodian John Sullivan.
But it was the hosts who opened the scoring 60 seconds later, when Elder smashed a low drive past Cole from the edge of the penalty area.
The R's responded positively though, with Marc Nygaard unfortunate not to find the back of the net on three separate occasions.
The Danish front-man went close with two headers and saw a further effort cleared off the line from a perfectly flighted Chris Barker set-piece.
Rangers grew in stature as the half wore on and their improved display was rewarded on the stroke of half-time, when Baidoo slotted home at the second attempt, after seeing his initial effort parried by Sullivan.
The second half flattered to deceive for long periods and Brighton's winner, midway through the second half, proved to be the only effort of note in a disappointing 45 minutes.
With Rangers appealing for the ball to be kicked out of play so Rose could receive treatment, Gatting seized on a long diagonal ball out of defence and beat Cole when faced one-on-one with the R's keeper.
Nygaard went close late on, but this effort from close range was smothered by Sullivan, with the assistant referee's flag later being raised for offside.
QPR Official Site

QPR OFFICIAL SITE TEAM - RESERVES READY
First Team coaches Mick Harford and Warren Neill have named a strong Reserve side for the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion this evening.
Jake Cole starts in goal, while the back four consists of skipper Marcus Bignot, Danny Cullip, Dominic Shimmin and Chris Barker, who is free to make his long-awaited R's debut at Burnley this weekend following a three match suspension.
Stefan Bailey partners Under-18 skipper Danny Maguire in the heart of the R's engine-room, with Kieron St Aimie and Shabazz Baidoo occupying the wide berths in midfield.
Marc Nygaard is joined in attack by Under-18 starlet Romone Rose, while the bench consists of Sampsa Timoska, Reece Crowther, Aaron Goode, Andrew Howell and Chris Arthur.
The R's kick-off their Pontins Holidays Combination League campaign at Worthing FC's Woodside Road ground (7.00pm kick-off).
QPR: Cole, Bignot, Barker, Maguire, Shimmin, Cullip, Baidoo, Bailey, Nygaard, Rose, St Aimie.

Subs: Timoska, Crowther, Goode, Howell, Arthur. QPR

BRIGHTON ARGUS Albion's fringe strikers on target By Andy Naylor
Albion Reserves 2, QPR Reserves 1.
Albion's fringe strikers served notice last night that they are still around fighting to regain a first team place.
Nathan Elder and Joe Gatting were both on the score sheet at Woodside Road, Worthing.
Bas Savage also figured prominently as the Reserves opened their combination campaign with a commendable victory.
Elder, signed from Billericay at Christmas, finished last season with a goal on his full debut at Cheltenham.
Savage had already been Albion's goalscoring saviour by that stage after moving from Gillingham.
The pair, together with youth team product Gatting, have lost out so far to summer capture Nicky Forster and Alex Revell in the congested battle to play upfront.
It took Elder only nine minutes to put Albion ahead.
Savage played him through a square Rangers defence with a delightful pass and he tucked the ball through the legs of advancing keeper Jake Cole.
Elder almost scored again in the 21st minute. He got in behind former Albion captain Danny Cullip to meet Tommy Fraser's inswinging free-kick at the far post with a firm header which Cole kept out in acrobatic fashion. Savage, operating again on the right flank, also tested Cole with shots from outside the box twice in the first half as Albion acquitted themselves well against an experienced Rangers line-up.
Along with Cullip, returning from injury, the Londoners included the likes of Marcus Bignot, Chris Barker and Marc Nygaard.
The Seagulls' young defence, marshalled at centre half by Kerry Mayo, were rarely troubled in the opening 45 minutes, although the giant Nygaard should have done better with a couple of headers wide of the target.
They looked sure to be in front at the interval when Nygaard's glancing header from a corner was nodded off the line by first-year scholar Ruben French.
But Shabazz Baidoo scored a flattering equaliser for Rangers in first-half stoppage time, slotting the rebound after keeper John Sullivan blocked his initial drive.
It was a bad time to concede but Albion refused to be shaken by the setback. They came close to regaining the lead early in the second half when Savage's hooked volley across the face of goal was almost turned into his own net by Dominic Shimmin, who was grateful to see the ball flash just wide.
Shimmin volleyed over from a corner before Gatting put Albion ahead once more in slightly controversial circumstances with 20 minutes remaining. Several Rangers players stopped, rather than playing to the referee's whistle, when Romone Rose was down with cramp on the edge of the Albion box and Sullivan launched a long clearance upfield.
Gatting strode on to beat Cole with a well-placed shot into the far corner.
Youth chief Vic Bragg took charge of the team, with boss Dean Wilkins, assistant manager Dean White and coach Ian Chapman all on scouting missions.
Albion Reserves (4-4-2): Sullivan; Cook, Pearson, Mayo, French; Savage, Fraser, Reid, Loft; Gatting, Elder. Subs: Beda, Pelling, Louis, Wills, Foreman. Brighton Argus

BRIGHTON OFFICIAL SITE Reserves Off To Winning Start By Tim Dudding, at Woodside Road
Nathan Elder and Joe Gatting were on target as the reserves got off to a winning start with a 2-1 win over QPR tonight.
Albion romped to an 8-2 victory in the corresponding fixture last season, but this was a much tighter affair as the visitors fielded an experienced line-up, including former Seagulls skipper Danny Cullip, striker Marc Nygaard and defender Marcus
By contrast, Albion fielded a back four that with the exception of Kerry Mayo, was made up of youth team scholars.

With Ian Chapman and Martin Hinshelwood both scouting at other games, Vic Bragg took charge, and he was delighted with second years Ruben French and Andy Pearson, and in particular first year Steve Cook.

Bragg said "I was pleased with Steve. He's only 16 and he told me he was a bit nervous before the game, but he worked his way through it.

"I told him that if couldn't get forward then he should just defend - learn to do that first and then you can get forward later. He did really well.

"It's a learning curve for all of the them. These sorts of games where they're playing against one or two seasoned pros are invaluable."

QPR had the first sight of goal, but John Sullivan dived bravely at the feet of Romone Rose as he snaked his way into the box.
Bas Savage then forced a good save from Jake Cole after turning inside, before threading the ball through to Elder moments later for the striker to break the deadlock with a clinical finish.
Elder almost doubled Albion's lead when he got on the end of Tommy Fraser's free-kick, but again Cole saved well.
But with half-time approaching, Sullivan could only parry Shabazz Baidoo's shot, and the midfielder was first to the rebound to poke QPR level.
Chances were few and far between in the second half, but Albion kept plugging away and Cullip almost sliced the ball into his own net as he tried to cut out a Savage pull-back.
The Seagulls finally regained the lead with 20 minutes remaining. Sullivan pumped the ball forward, but with Rose on the floor with cramp, the visitors hesitated and Gatting raced clear through unchallenged to slot the ball past a helpless Cole.
Albion: (4-4-2) Sullivan; Cook, Pearson, Mayo, French; Savage, Fraser, Reid, Loft; Gatting, Elder. Subs not used: Pelling (GK), Louis, Wills, Beda, Foreman.Brighton