Vital QPR remembers QPR`s last trip to Adams Park, as John Gregory`s side travelled to the League Two outfit in a 2007 friendly.
It was the pre-season following Rangers stunning revival to keep them in the Championship, and they had made a couple of new acquisitions, but questions arose as to their availability.
Lee Camp and Simon Walton had joined Gregory`s Rangers from Derby County and Charlton Athletic respectively with Chelsea duo Michael Mancienne and Ben Sahar also bolstering the squad.
Rumours surfaced of Oldham chairman Simon Blitz and a £500,000 loan to QPR, something which infuriated the Football League and could have stopped the R`s additions playing against Bristol City on the opening day.
The loan was paid back in full to Blitz, but it was one of many dents to the R`s faltering reputation under the tenure of Gianni Paladini.
To Adams Park, and new coach Ed de Goey sat next to Gregory on the sidelines as the travelling 1,000 supporters looked to catch a glimpse of their exciting new additions.
It proved to be more of a fitness exercise for both sides, as quality of play took a back-seat to sheer hard work and endeavour. A moment of class separated the sides however when Martin Rowlands exquisite free-kick broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time.
In what was to be his final game for the club, striker Ray Jones was withdrawn on 56 minutes, owing to an injury complaint – and sadly passed away a month later before the R`s away trip to Burnley.
Post match boss John Gregory said: ‘The scoreline probably flattered us a little bit. I would have liked to see us win more comfortably, but it was a worthwhile exercise.
‘I want us to have difficult times and for things not to run smoothly. It’s a good test.
‘We’ve got a few problems that need to be ironed out.
‘We looked a little disjointed as the new players bedded in but, in general, they settled well.
‘They’ve possibly got to get used to how we play, but I thought John Curtis and Simon Walton both did well.’
Queens Park Rangers: Lee Camp (Jake Cole 65), Michael Mancienne, Dominic Shimmin (Sam Timoska 56), Damion Stewart, John Curtis (Zesh Rehman 79), Danny Nardiello (Stefan Moore 56), Adam Bolder, Simon Walton (Stefan Bailey 86), Martin Rowlands, Dexter Blackstock (Marc Nygaard 79), Ray Jones (Ben Sahar 56).
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