Hogan Ephraim scored twice for the second friendly in a row as QPR defeated Bodmin Town 6-0 on the day that Damion Stewart opened talks over a new Loftus Road contract.
News:
Bodmin were always going to be slightly tougher opponents than Tavistock were on Monday – they have been champions of the South West Peninsula league in two off the last three seasons and were only pipped to the title last season on goal difference. Ultimately Rangers saw them off quite comfortably, although three late goals gave the scoreline a flattering look.
Hogan Ephraim, who scored twice on Monday, opened the scoring with a low shot inside the penalty area after four minutes and completed the rout in the last minute by rounding the keeper and sliding the ball home. In the intervening 85 minutes Jamie Mackie made it two goals in two games from the edge of the area, and then after half time an own goal from Huw Morgan, a close range effort from Antonio German and another goal for promising youngster Josh Parker had made it five nil.
Message board regular Antoknee64 was there and reported back: “Bodmin put up a better fight than Tavistock. Warnock started with a strong side again although it was obvious some players had injuries - Clarke, Hill, Rowlands and Ageymang were all there but played no part.
“Although we won by six it wasn’t looking great ten minutes into the second half at 3-0 when Bodmin had a couple of chances to score. Three late goals sealed the victory. Hall came on and played centre midfield as Faurlin took a battering. Ephraim and Borrowdale lost their rag on a couple of occasions and were up for fisticuffs with Bodmin players. Kenny and Cerny had one or two saves each. I spoke to Rowley and he said he should be playing next week in Italy.”
QPR First Half: Kenny, Leigertwood, Hall, Gorkss, Connolly, Buzsaky, Derry, Faurlin, Mackie, Helguson, Ephraim.
QPR Second Half: Cerny, Connolly, Stewart, Ramage, Borrowdale, Leigertwood, Derry, Faurlin, Ephraim, German, Parker.
Meanwhile centre half Damion Stewart may be about to prolong his stay with QPR. The Ealing Gazette reports that the jamiacan international has opened talks about his future with the club with just another 12 months left on his existing contract. Stewart has made steady progress with Rangers since joining from Bradford when Gary Waddock was the manager in 2006 and won the club's Player of the Year award in 2008/09. He is currently being eased back into pre-season training as he continues to recover from the fractured skull he suffered at Crystal Palace at the back end of last season. Matthew Connolly has already extended his deal with Rangers by two years this week.
Championship shorts:
- Norwich City are poised to announce the £600,000 signing of Gillingham striker Simeon Jackson. Young Norwich forward Cody McDonald will move the other way on loan as part of the deal that could rise to £1m if certain conditions are met.
- Swansea striker Lee Trundle has snubbed offers from Swindon and Yeovil to sign a £2,000 a week deal at ambitious Welsh Premier League outfit Neath. Trundle said: "'I had other offers from elsewhere but I wanted to stay in the area and this is an ambitious club."
- Derby have pulled out of the race to sign Scunthorpe forward Gary Hooper after baulking at the Lincolnshire club's demands for a transfer fee. Manager Nigel Clough said: "Scunthorpe want an awful lot of money for him and we already have six strikers on our books. The combination of those things mean we won't be adding him at the moment." Leeds United and Middlesbrough are thought to be leading the chase for Hooper following his 19 goal haul last season.
- Rangers have opened talks with Burnley about a potential deal for midfielder Chris Eagles. The Scottish giants signed Kyle Lafferty from Turf Moor previously to great success and have been invited by the Clarets to return with a firm offer for the player.
- Papa Bouba Diop has left Portsmouth and joined AEK Athens on a two year deal.