QPR round off pre-season with emphatic defeat at Oxford

Oxford United 5 (1) Brannagan 35, Harris 58, Browne 66, Mills 72, Thorniley 82

Queens Park Rangers 0 (0)

QPR rounded off their preparations for the new Championship season with a heavy defeat at the hands of League One Oxford United.

A woeful display was made worse by a first-half injury for centre-back Jimmy Dunne, as Gareth Ainsworth’s options in defence become even more limited.

QPR fell apart at the back once Dunne was forced off, as the youthful centre-back pairing of Joe Gubbins and Trent Rendall failed to get to grips with the Oxford attack.

The biggest concern of the afternoon for Ainsworth was surely Dunne’s injury. The centre-back damaged his shoulder in the 20th minute, collapsing to the turf to receive treatment before eventually being stretchered off.

The QPR boss is already without Jake Clarke-Salter due to injury, and new signing Morgan Fox was not involved at the Kassam Stadium.

The partnership of Gubbins and Rendall saw out what remained of this game, but they have played just a minute of Championship football between them and the season opener against Watford is now only a week away.

Rangers fell behind after 35 minutes courtesy of Brannagan’s powerful strike from just inside the penalty area. The finish followed a neat backheel by striker Mark Harris but earlier in the move, QPR midfielder Taylor Richards was too easily beaten to a loose ball by the touchline.

Richards had QPR’s only shot on target of the first half, with a weak effort into the hands of James Beadle before being replaced at the interval.

The away side almost drew level at the start of the second half when a curling Chris Willock strike missed the target by a matter of inches.

However, they fell further behind on the hour mark when their defence was carved open by a flowing Oxford move and Mark Harris lashed an effort beyond Asmir Begovic.

Things got even worse for QPR just five minutes later when Marcus Browne was allowed to ghost in behind the backline before nodding the ball over the line after Begovic had saved his first effort.

Oxford extended their lead when Stanley Mills, son of former England international Danny, beat a flimsy offside trap before slotting into the bottom corner.

Event though the hosts took their foot off the gas with the start of the third tier season just a week away, the accommodating QPR defence still allowed Jordan Thorniley to head home his side’s fifth goal of the afternoon in the final ten minutes.

Substitute Gatlin O’Donkor had the decency to only hit the post as he strode clear during what was mercifully Oxford’s final attack of the afternoon.

QPR will be hoping for an improved showing at Vicarage Road next weekend.

QPR: (4-2-3-1) Begovic – Kakay, Dunne (Rendall 20), Gubbins, Paal – Dozzell (Gape 77) , Field – Chair, Richards (Kelman 45), Willock (Adomah 77) – Dykes. Subs not used: Walsh