Rowan Vine marked his return to action with a goal but QPR crashed to their first defeat of the pre-season against NK Karlovac on Sunday.
Rangers gave a start in goal to Czech Martin Lejsal as the Brno man attempts to win a contract at Loftus Road. Alejandro Faurlin started in midfield and striker Rowan Vine returned from the hamstring strain sustained at Aldershot earlier this month. Italian striker Alessandro Pellicori enjoyed a 45 minute run out in the second half as he continues his efforts to win a contract at QPR. There was no place in the line up for Dexter Blackstock who is back in England discussing a move to Nottingham Forest.
QPR took the lead just before half time when Faurlin found Vine in the penalty area with a free kick and the striker scored at the second attempt from six yards out.
A plethora of substitutions followed at half time and into the second half and QPR portly collapsed – conceding three goals in eleven minutes after the break. It may just be a coincidence but I can’t help but notice that things started to go wrong when the infamous Mahon and Leigertwood partnership was teamed up in the centre of midfield.
Vine had a shot well saved after half time but things went pear shaped for QPR with 20 minutes left for play. Trialist goalkeeper Martin Lejsal was penalised for a trip and Pamic sent him the wrong way with the resulting penalty. Lejsal was then beaten from long range by Stefancic and Redzepi made it three with eight minutes left.
The usual lines about the opposition being closer to the start of their season than us, and it only being a fitness exercise, are bound to be trotted out but as it stands QPR’s attack has not been improved from last season and the defence that was so reliable in 2008/09 is leaking goals – five in two matches abroad this week.
Manager Jim Magilton told the club’s official website: “I have learnt a lot more about my players tonight. No-one likes losing, least of all me, but the lads have got some more game time in their tanks and that is the most important thing at this time of year. I’ve learnt a lot throughout the tour and we’ll highlight those things to the lads over the coming days and weeks. Like we have said, everything is geared towards August 8 against Blackpool.”
Proving there are QPR fans everywhere LFW's man at the match, message board poster Sir Les, sent us the following report: "Unfortunately that was a very poor and disjointed performance against a team that has just been promoted to the Croatian first division. Vine's goal was against the run of play and we didn't string more than three or four passes together. Ephraim was unable to beat his man, Agyemang looked overweight and slow and the keeper's positional sense was poor, especially for the second goal.
"Only real bright spark was Faurlin, kept things simple and tidy and his pass completion rate was very high. He was also the creator of our only goalscoring chance which resulted in Vine's goal. To be fair Vine looked fit and lively whilst Alberti in the middle of the park was decent enough. Legs and Routledge didn't managed to get into the game whilst the Italian striker although quite skilful and decent in the air was extremely slow, I can't see him being an improvement on what we have already.
"Overall Karlovac were much the better team and if we don't improve drastically I can't see us improving on last seasons mid-table finish."
NK Karlovac: Sunara, Pilipovic, Vukman (Matika 75), Paracki (Stambolija 85), Baric (Redzepi 75), Novinic (Tokic 86), Jerneic (Stefancic 61), Lajtman, Pamic, Bunoza, Karabatic
Subs: Parazajder, Vucemilovic-Grdic, Iftic, Redzepi, Kovacevic
Goals: Pamic (70), Stefancic (79), Redzepi (81)
Bookings: Pamic (81), Bunoza (91)
QPR: Lejsal, Ramage (Connolly 67), Borrowdale, Alberti (Leigertwood 59), Gorkss (Oastler 67), Hall (Brown 67), Ainsworth (Buzsaky 59), Ephraim (Routledge 59), Vine (Helguson 67), Faurlin (Mahon 46), Agyemang (Pellicori 46)
Subs: Cerny, Balanta
Goals: Vine (41)
Bookings: Pellicori (83)