QPR enjoyed an excellent dress rehearsal ahead of the big Championship kick-off next week with a 2-0 win over Premiership Watford in their final pre-season friendly.
Eight days before meeting Leeds complete with Hoops’ old-boy Rob Green in the season curtain-raiser Sebastian Polter and substitute Conor Washington scored the goals in a deserved win against the Hornets.
Here’s our ‘new boys’ watch and a bit more.
Jake Bidwell
One good steal high up the pitch which might have led to a goal would have pleased his new boss and an excellent clearing header at a set piece where he was often left to pick up Troy Deeney also suggested good things ahead for the former Brentford man.
He was caught out once or twice in the second half by Watford substitute Nordin Amrabat, so positional sense may need some polish, but looks to have got the nod at left back over James Perch for now.
A little reinvention for Jordan Cousins
The summer signing from Charlton found himself employed as part of a two-man screen in front of the back four, but looked composed on the ball. There were some flashes of the creative side which first brought him to Rangers’ attention when playing against them for Charlton at the back end of last season.
A couple of penetrating passes and one box-to-box run in the second half in particular caught the eye before he was withdrawn on 66 minutes
It looks a narrower remit than he enjoyed with the Addicks, but if he can embrace it then on this evidence he looks a regular starter
A waiting game for Joel Lynch?
Only 18 minutes for the summer arrival from Huddersfield, but perhaps that in itself tells a story. The fact Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink left his starting back four intact for 72 minutes just eight days before the kick-off to the league season suggests Steven Caulker’s return to Loftus Road has edged the Welshman down the centre-back pecking order for the time being at least.
Beware the ‘Poltergeist’
Watford will be glad to see the back of the German front-man who was the standout performer among the more established of Rangers’ brigade You could have called him Poltergeist today as the men of Vicarage Road were chasing his shadow in the first half especially when he scored one, hit the woodwork not once but twice with another and would have claimed an assist but for Tjaronn Chery missing a sitter.
A good dry run
Rangers were excellent with the ball in the opening 25 minutes and disciplined enough without it to render Alex Smithies, one really good stop and one more routine save apart a virtual spectator.
You can always be better but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s men are as ready as they’ll ever be for next Sunday’s visit.
