Queens Park Rangers were held by NK Celje in Slovenia this evening.
The R`s handed Alejandro Faurlín his first start in a Rangers shirt following his £3.5m move from Instituto. Magilton also handed starts to trialist Ivan Gvozdenovič and attacking trio Angelo Balanta, Heidar Helguson and Patrick Agyemang.
QPR: Radek Cerny, Peter Ramage, Ivan Gvozdenovic, Matthew Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss, Mikele Leigertwood, Wayne Routledge, Angelo Balanta, Heidar Helguson, Alejandro Faurlin, Patrick Agyemang.
The early signs were positive for QPR when young Angelo Balanta linked up with Mikele Leigertwood to power the ball home and hand the R`s the advantage.
Leigertwood himself was replaced by Gavin Mahon just short of ten minutes the end of the first period owing to illness with the former Watford man entering the fray.
It appeared to be going to be plan until Rangers conceded their first goal of pre-season on the stroke of half time when striker Darijo Biscan notched for the hosts to make it all level going into the second period.
The hosts changed their entire line-up at half-time as they looked to build on the late breakthrough at the end of the first half.
It paid dividends as straight after the break Celje took the lead for the first time in the fixture courtesy of former Southend United trialist Dejan Krljanovič. They looked good value for their lead as they continued to pile on the pressure in the early stages of the second period.
However Rangers soon struck back after 54 minutes with Balanta completing a brace as the game quickly became an entertaining goal-fest for those in attendance at the Arena Petrol.
On the hour mark Magilton made wholesale changes with record signing Alejandro Faurlín making way for young Italian Matteo Alberti.
Elvijs Putnins replaced Radek Cerny between the sticks, Gary Borrowdale come on for Patrick Agyemang and finally trialist Ivan Gvozdenovič made way for veteran Gareth Ainsworth.
Two minutes later and Magilton made a couple more changes with impressive young defensive duo Lee Brown and Joe Oastler replacing Kaspars Gorkss and Peter Ramage respectively.
QPR had picked up a staggering three bookings in the encounter with Gareth Ainsworth, Wayne Routledge and Matteo Alberti all incurring the wrath of official Emir Huselja.
With the messageboards a hive of activity with everyone, including this reporter, thinking Gareth Ainsworth had snatched the winning goal only for it to be disallowed a minute into injury time
Magilton will undoubtedly be pleased with the fighting spirit of his side as he takes the R’s to Croatia on Sunday
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