FIRST TEAM

 

QPRnet.com
 

Have your say on our message board

 

Upload your QPR pictures to our photo gallery

 

Read a range of opinions on our regular blogs

 

Check your team's progress in Fantasy Rangers

 

Stay in touch on the move with QPRnet Mobile

 
 
 
Rangers' reserves handed out a battering to Wycombe Wanderers' second string at Chestnut Avenue this evening. Five goals, five scorers and yet another for goal machine Brett Angell.

Rangers had the luxury of fielding a relatively experienced starting eleven. Culkin and Plummer were both feeling their way back from injury and were joined by more experienced heads at this level in Duncan, Murphy, Burgess, Bean, Angell, Griffiths and Pacquette. The only real inexperienced players were outstanding youngster David Booles and former Manchester United player Steven Clegg, brother of Michael.

Rangers got off to a great start and took the lead through Angell. Booles received the ball on the left side and sent in a fierce shot that Williams could only parry into the path of Angell. Big Brett made no mistake from five yards to notch his third in two home games.

The second goal came from the head of Griffiths. Leroy was playing with a real swagger and he deserved his goal. Ollie Burgess swung a freekick in from the left side and Griffiths climbed above the static defence to nod home.

We had to wait until after the break for the third and it came courtesy of more diabolical marking at a set piece. David Booles sent in a right wing corner and Marcus Bean ran unhindered to the near post to head home.

By this time some of the interplay, especially between Murphy, Booles and Griffiths was excellent. Wes Daly had also entered the fray in his return from a knee injury and he was his usual industrious self.

The fourth goal was an absolute gem and came from the left foot of the much maligned Danny Murphy. He collected the ball in the centre circle and drove toward the Wycombe box. He played the ball into Angell who sent a neat flick back into his path. As he was challenged he managed to unleash a stinging drive that flew into the top corner. It was a belter and in keeping with Murphy's general level of performance in the reserves this year. It is a real shame that he never seems to translate this into his first team appearances as he has bags of ability.

The fifth and final goal came in the dying seconds from the talented Booles. He ran goalward and fed the ball into Leroy who held it and waited for his run. The run and ball were perfect and Booles calmly drew the keeper before slamming the ball home.

Eleven goals have been served up in the last two home games and this victory, in terms of performance was more impressive that the one against Millwall. Plummer got a good forty five minutes under his belt and there were excellent displays from Murphy, Duncan, Booles and Griffiths. Pacquette seemed subdued and looked as though he was still feeling his was back from injury. The same could be said for Ollie Burgess who seemed very heavy legged as the game neared its conclusion.

Both Griffiths and Booles will have put a thought in Holloway's mind regarding the left sided problem and should McLeod's loan not be extended past a month I think either of these, in current form, could do a job in the first team.