QPR suffer friendly reverse at Oxford United – as Taylor’s goal settles Kassam Stadium contest

BY NICK KITUNO

Queens Park Rangers fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat at Oxford United in their second and final pre-season friendly.

Matt Taylor dispatched the only goal of the game as the R’s struggled to put away their chances at a windswept Kassam Stadium.

Following a slow start, the R’s went close to breaking the deadlock when Geoff Cameron’s header was kept out by goalkeeper Simon Eastwood. Ilias Chair also had an effort fall the wrong side of the post.

The game’s best chances fell to goalscorer Taylor, who first hooked an effort over from James Henry’s inviting cross before failing direct a header on target from the same provider.

He finally got his rewards on 62 minutes when he backheeled the ball through Liam Kelly’s legs after the ball fell kindly to him inside the box.

Rangers made several changes late on and could have equalised had substitute Aramide Oteh found the target from Paul Smyth’s cutback cross, while Todd Kane sliced wide near to goal.

In the end, the visitors could not restore parity and left with a defeat. It comes as Oxford were without Rob Dickie, who was not in the squad to face the R’s amid interest from the west London club.