QPR got their pre-season campaign off to a flyer with an 8-0 win at Tavistock on Monday night. Earlier in the day defender Matt Connolly extended his stay at Loftus Road by a further two years.
News:
Against a team ranked six divisions below the football league a handsome win was the least Rangers fans would have been expecting, especially with Neil Warnock keeping to his promise made to the hosts and fielding a strong line up of first team players in both halves. In the event Rangers declared at eight, with Buzsaky and Ephraim sharing four goals between them to go with first QPR goals for Clint Hill and Jamie Mackie and further strikes from Josh Parker and Alejandro Faurlin.
Buzsaky scored after just 12 seconds to get things up and running and later added another with a trademark long range free kick. Mackie scored from the edge of the area and Hill stopped to head home from close range to give Rangers a four nil half time lead. Seven changes at the start off the second half gave the visiting side a fresh look but it was more of the same as Ephraim chipped a fifth and fired home an eighth either side of a header from Parker and a Faurlin goal from the edge of the penalty area.
QPR: Kenny, Hill, Leigertwood, Hall, Gorkss, Derry, Buzsaky, Faurlin, Helguson, Mackie, Clarke.
Subs: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Parker, German, Connolly, Borrowdale, Ephraim
That victory completed a day of good news with young defender Matthew Connolly signing a new two year contract extension through to 2013 this morning and vowing to put his injury ravaged 2009/10 campaign behind him this season. Connolly, who played the second half at Tavistock, is rated as one of the best young defenders at the club but glandular fever followed by a niggling ankle injury meant he endured a tough time last season and will need to justify his place come the start of this season.
Nevertheless Neil Warnock is delighted to have one of his brighter prospects tied down to a long term deal. Warnock told the club’s official website: “This is another important step in getting my squad together and settled for the next couple of years. Matt is one of the most exciting young footballers around and I am expecting big things from him in the next 12 months. This is a big season for him.”
Connolly said: “I still had a year to run on my contract, so it wasn't really playing on my mind but it's always good to have your future sorted out nice and early. We've got an excellent manager in place who's going to be here for a few years and the club is really settled. My target for this season is to stay injury-free, play as many games as I can and show everyone what I can do. I've been really impressed by Neil Warnock since he came in. He's got a proven track record, a lot of experience and I like the way he manages. I am delighted to be a part of it."
Former R’s:
Although rumour’s persist that he may be returning to Loftus Road this summer with no news so far we must leave Adel Taarabt in this section for now. Defying reports that he is injured, or on the cusp of leaving White Hart Lane, the moody Moroccan played the second half of Spurs’ weekend friendly at Bournemouth, striking a post in a 4-0 win. Former R’s trainee Dean Parrett, also defying reports his time at Spurs was coming to an end that did the rounds on the message boards last season, played the first half. Roman Pavlyuchenko scored twice for the Premiership side.
Championship Shorts:
- Nigel Pearson’s rebuilding job at Hull City has got underway with Nolberto Solano signing on a free from Leicester and James Harper joining from Sheffield United. Jimmy Bullard’s proposed season long loan deal with Celtic appears to have fallen through though.
- Clinton Morrison has dropped down a level following his release from Coventry City The 31 year old striker will pair up with Neil Mellor in an impressive looking League One partnership after completing a free transfer move to Hillsborough.
- Sheffield United have signed Rob Kozluk on a one year deal following his release from Barnsley The Blades originally let Kozluk leave to move to Oakwell in 2007. Stoke’s Uruguay international Diego Arismendi has moved to the Tykes on a season long loan just 12 months after joining Stoke for £2.6m.
- Benfica defender Miguel Vitor is Paulo Sousa’s first signing as Leicester manager on a season long loan deal. Meanwhile Swansea have again been refused permission to speak to Gary Speed about taking over from Sousa following his departure last week.