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Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 28th July 2009
Kick-off: 19:45
Adams Park Stadium
Wycombe Wanderers V Queens Park Rangers
By thegodfather

Time does fly so quickly. It only seems like a few weeks ago that Gareth Ainsworth was managing the Rs through their final few games after the controversial sacking of Paulo Sousa. We now have just under a fortnight to wait for the beginning of the 2009/010 Coca-Cola Championship.

Tonight’s pre-season match will see Queens Park Rangers face Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park. As insignificant as friendly results are, it would be nice for the Hoops to go into the Blackpool match on the back of a few comfortable victories against the Chairboys, Kettering Town and Southampton.

Wycombe Wanderers

Manager, Peter Taylor, guided Wycombe back to League One last season after a five-year spell in the third tier of English football. Despite losing on the final day of the campaign, the Chairboys gained promotion thanks to their goal difference record. It could have been oh so different had Bury scored just once more – that was how close the race for the top three places turned out to be.

Wanderers face what is likely to be a very difficult 2009/010 season. League One is going to be a rather tough division with the likes of Norwich, Southampton, Charlton, Leeds and Millwall all competing. If Peter Taylor is not careful, his team could be drawn into a relegation battle.

With the new season so close, the manager will be expecting a decent performance from his side when they face QPR tonight. And, in front of the Wycombe supporters, the home team will certainly fancy their chances.

Men to watch

1. Tommy Doherty - Queens Park Rangers fans will no doubt remember Tommy Doherty, who was a member of the squad at Loftus Road from 2005 to 2008. Injuries and suspensions marred his time with the Hoops and overall he only made 15 appearances. In 2006 he joined Wycombe Wanderers on loan and was named in the League Two Team of the Season. Another year at Adams Park followed and Peter Taylor signed the 30 year-old on a permanent deal in January 2008. Rangers need to be aware of the threat that Doherty poses. He is not scared to go in for the tough tackles, even in pre-season friendlies. I do hope that nobody gets injured.

2. John Mousinho could partner Doherty in the heart of midfield. The former Brentford midfielder earned himself a regular place in the starting line-up with some very impressive performances last season. Expect to see the 23 year-old give the likes of Rowlands and Mahon a stern test tonight.

3. Wycombe Wanderers completed the signing of Michael Duberry from Reading this summer. He has also been named as the club’s captain. The central defender has enjoyed a successful career, which has seen him play for the likes of Chelsea and Leeds United. However, at the age of 33, perhaps the QPR forwards can expose Duberry’s lack of pace this evening.

Form

Queens Park Rangers’ last two matches: Won (V Forest Green), Drawn (V Oxford United).

Wycombe Wanderers’ last two matches: Won (V Windsor and Eton), Lost (V Dover Athletic).

Team News

Alejandro Faurlin, Akos Buzsaky and Mikele Leigertwood will all miss tonight’s game through what Jim Magilton describes as “minor injuries”. Full Queens Park Rangers squad:

Alberti, Agyemang, Balanta, Brown, Cerny, Connolly, German, Gorkss, Hall, Mahon, Oastler, Parker, Putnins, Ramage, Routledge, Rowlands, Taraabt, Vine.

For Wycombe, Craig Woodman, Lewis Montrose, Stuart Green and TJ Moncur are all likely to return from minor injuries to play against Queens Park Rangers tonight. However, Lewis Hunt and Lewwis Spence will definitely miss the match.

Prediction

Tonight’s game represents John Gorman’s first opportunity to gain revenge on his former club. The QPR Assistant Manager spent a couple of years in charge of the Chairboys between 2004 and 2006.

I expect that this will be a comfortable victory for Queens Park Rangers. With the exception of the Oxford United result, the Rs have shown that they are more than capable of defeating lower league opposition with ease.

Wycombe Wanderers 0-2 Queens Park Rangers