Simon Royce was in goal behind a back four of Billy Coyne, Dominic Shimmin, Mauro Milanese and Andrew Howell. Kieron St Aimie, Rohan Ricketts, Stefan Bailey and Chris Arthur were in midfield with Shabazz Baidoo up top.

Rangers had already tested the frame of the goal through Shimmin and St Aimie when the former gave them the lead after half an hour. Ricketts delivered the dead ball and the injury prone former Arsenal youngster arrived at the back stick to head home. It was no less than Rangers total dominance of the game thus far warranted.

Royce kept Rangers ahead with a fine save before Baidoo saw a goal knocked off for offside on the stroke of half time. Four minutes into the second half Bournemouth levelled things when schoolboy Steven Hutchings slotted home after good play from fellow short trouser wearer Carl Preston.

Rangers were soon back in the lead though when Chris Arthur fed Ray Jones whose clever back heel fell perfectly for Bailey. The young midfielder, more renowned for his ferocious tackling than his pinpoint shooting, fired low into the net.

With eight minutes left Rangers put their youthful opponents out of sight when Baidoo cracked home from inside the area to cap a decent night’s work for an R’s side that was pretty green itself.

The tender ages of the opponents will no doubt have given rangers the advantage but these games still have to be put to bed. Four of our starting XI will be on duty trying to secure the U18’s league title on Saturday, as will four of the five subs (Paul Jones being a shade over the age limit).

Shimmin will hope this game gave a timely reminder to Gregory and may have staved off his almost inevitable release in the summer. There is no doubt that he has the talent but he is as fragile a player as Rangers have ever signed, a there have been plenty of those!

QPR: Royce, Coyne, Shimmin (Brown), Milanese, Howell, St Aimie, Ricketts, Bailey, Arthur, Jones R, Baidoo. Subs not used: Jones P, Ford, Maguire, Folkes