R's lose to FALKIRK..Poot!!
Iain Dowie suffered his first defeat as R's manager this afternoon, as he saw his side lose 2-0 at Scottish Premier League outfit Falkirk.
Two goals in as many minutes mid-way through the first half ultimately decided this contest, but what will be of greater concern to the QPR First Team Coach was the injury sustained by Matt Connolly in the second half, which resulted in him being stretchered off.
Damion Stewart netted an unfortunate own goal before Falkirk forward John Stewart volleyed home a second, just seconds later. In the end it proved to big a mountain to climb for the R's.
Dowie named a strong starting line-up for the game, and it seems quite clear which players he is intending to start with against Barnsley in a fortnight, based on the amount of match time certain players have had during the pre-season campaign so far.
With Lee Camp in goal, Dowie kept with the same back four that started against Northampton on Wednesday, meaning Peter Ramage - who sat out the fixture at Sixfields with a hamstring injury - had to make do with a place on the bench.
The only change to the midfield quartet was the introduction of Hogan Ephraim, at the expense of Matteo Alberti. Dowie gave Emmanuel Ledesma the opportunity to play on the right, his favoured position, while Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon continued in the centre.
Dexter Blackstock once again partnered Patrick Agyemang in attack, as they lined up against a strong Falkirk side which included three summer signings Jackie McNamara, Lee Bullen and Neil McCann.
After a tight opening ten minutes, it was QPR who created the first opportunity.
Following an excellent passing move involving Rowlands, Damien Delaney and Dexter Blackstock, the latter set-up Ledesma but his shot from the edge of the box flew high and wide.
But five minutes later it was Falkirk who drew first blood as they took the lead thanks to an unfortunate Stewart own goal.
Neil McCann picked the ball up in the middle of the park and played a delightful through-ball for left winger Gerard Aafjes to race onto, and his low-driven cross was met by Stewart who, in trying to cut out the delivery, smashed the ball beyond Camp at the near post.
Things got worse for the R's two minutes later when the hosts doubled their advantage after McCann's corner from the left was volleyed home by John Stewart from ten yards out.
The visitors had to cope with a period of sustained Falkirk possession following the quick-fire goals, but to their credit, the R's restricted their Scottish opponents.
And Dowie's men almost reduced the deficit on 25 minutes when, after a goal-mouth scramble, the ball fell to Damien Delaney, but his snap-shot from 12 yards flew wide of the near post.
Ledesma saw another shot fly a yard over, but just before the break, Hogan Ephraim forced Robert Olejnik into his first save of the game.
Gavin Mahon had picked out Ledesma with a neat through ball, and the latter fed Ephraim, who had switched momentarily to the right.
His cross/shot was tipped around the post by the Falkirk stopper, and that in fact was the first save either keeper had to make in the opening 45 minutes.
The 2-0 half-time scoreline certainly wasn't a fair reflection on the match, but the R's knew they would need to up the ante in the second period if they were to get themselves back into this game.
Matteo Alberti was brought on at the break for Hogan Ephraim. And it seemed whatever Dowie said during the interval had its desired effect, as the tempo was upped by the R's immediately, summed up with Mahon's hard-hitting tackle in the opening seconds of the half.
Moments later, a sweeping passing move involving Mahon and Agyemang saw the former break into the Falkirk box, but his shot was blocked and the danger was cleared.
Now in the ascendancy, Rowlands also went close with a powerful drive from 20 yards. Olejnik was flat-footed and could only watch as the ball whizzed a foot wide of his upright.
But on 55 minutes the R's suffered a huge blow when Connolly - who had once again been excellent, following a superb performance at Northampton - was stretchered off with what looked to be an ankle injury.
He was replaced by Peter Ramage, and Dowie will hope the injury sustained by the former Arsenal man isn't as serious as it initially appears.
Blackstock nearly broke beyond the Falkirk rearguard, but was denied by an excellent challenge from Darren Barr.
At the other end, John Stewart went close for the hosts, but was smothered out by a combination of his namesake Damion, and Camp.
The tempo of the game dropped off in the closing stages of the match, and Dowie will no doubt have left the Falkirk Stadium thinking more about Connolly's injury than about the 2-0 loss, although he will surely be after a better performance when his side travel to Kilmarnock on Tuesday evening.
Falkirk: Robert Olejnik, Jackie McNamara, Darren Barr, Lee Bullen, Gerard Aafjes, Patrick Cregg (Kevin McBride, 83), Scott Arfield (Stewart Murdoch, 83), Neil McCann, Graham Barrett (Kevin Moffat, 84), John Stewart (Russell Latapy, 76) Michael Higdon.
Subs: Jamie Barclay, Dermot McCaffrey, Dayne Robertson, Mark Staunton.
Goals: Damion Stewart OG (15), John Stewart (17),
QPR: Lee Camp, Damien Delaney, Damion Stewart, Fitz Hall, Matt Connolly (Peter Ramage, 55) Hogan Ephraim (Matteo Alberti, 46), Emmanuel Ledesma (Gareth Ainsworth, 68), Martin Rowlands (Adam Bolder, 61), Gavin Mahon, Patrick Agyemang (Angelo Balanta, 78), Dexter Blackstock.
Subs: Reece Crowther, Simon Walton, Zesh Rehman, Romone Rose.
Referee: Michael McCurry
Attendance: 1,308 :laugh: :laugh:
