Zan Celar had his first start as QPR wrapped up their pre-season preparations with a friendly match against Brighton. The Premier League team managed to secure a 1-0 victory at Loftus Road. New signings Liam Morrison, Heverrton Santos, and Daniel Bennie also made appearances as substitutes in the second half.
The only goal of the game came from Danny Welbeck, who converted a penalty early in the second half. The penalty was awarded after Jack Colback fouled Yankuba Minteh, who was in a scoring position after Jake Clarke-Salter lost possession near his own penalty area.
This match highlighted some of the challenges faced by Rangers when trying to play out from the back. The team was caught out on several occasions, leading to dangerous situations. Despite the loss, Marti Cifuentes’ side will be looking to regroup and prepare for their upcoming Championship season, which kicks off with a home game against West Brom next Saturday.
The starting lineup for QPR included Nardi in goal, with Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter, and Paal forming the backline. Colback and Field were in midfield, while Smyth, Andersen, and Kolli supported Celar in attack. As the game progressed, Morrison, Dixon-Bonner, Santos, Bennie, and Frey were introduced as substitutes to provide fresh legs and tactical changes.
As the team transitions from pre-season friendlies to competitive league matches, Cifuentes will be working on fine-tuning the squad and implementing strategies to address the vulnerabilities observed in the match against Brighton. The new signings will also have the opportunity to further integrate into the team and showcase their abilities in upcoming fixtures.
Overall, the pre-season match against Brighton served as a valuable learning experience for QPR, highlighting areas for improvement and areas of strength. With the new Championship season on the horizon, the team will be looking to build on their performances and work towards a successful campaign under Cifuentes’ guidance.
