FRIENDLY FIXTURE
SATURDAY 20TH JULY, 2024
(3pm)
QUEENS PARK RANGERS 0(0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2(1)

Scorers:-
Bissouma, 41
Scarlett, 87

Attendance:- TBC

Referee:- Gavin Ward

Teams:-
QPR (4-2-3-1):- Nardi; Dunne (Capt.) (sub Tuck, 70), Cook (sub Larkeche, 69), Clark-Salter (sub Fox, 69), Paal (sub Morrison, 69); Colback (sub Talla, 70), Dixon-Bonner (sub Bennie, 70); Smyth (sub Cannon, 70), Anderson (sub Lloyd, 70), Kolli (sub Hevertton Santos, 46); Frey (sub Dykes, 66)
(Armband to Dykes)

Sub not used:- Walsh (GK)

No bookings

Spurs (4-3-3):- Austin (sub Gunter), 46); Pedro Porro (sub Spence, 46), Gray (sub Emerson Royal, 46), Skipp (sub Phillips, 46), Donley (sub Abbott, 46); Sarr (sub Maddison, 46), Bissouma (sub Devine, 46), Bergvall (sub Kulusevski, 26) (sub Veliz, 66); Johnson (sub Moore, 46), Son (Capt.) (sub Lankshear, 46) (sub Hall, 66) (sub Scarlett, 85), Werner (sub Solomon, 46)
(Armband to Maddison)

Subs not used:- Whiteman (GK); Robson)

No bookings

This was tougher, but Spurs win again

Thanks to Stuart Gibson for this picture

With few changes to the personnel used in both halves, Spurs faced a tougher challenge against last season's Championship strugglers QPR than on Wednesday night against third-placed Scottish Premier League side Hearts.

Archie Gray had played at Loftus Road for 90 minutes in April when Leeds' promotion prospects were virtually wrecked in a 4-0 defeat. Gray was again in the first half Spurs side which this time included Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Timo Werner. Ange Postecoglou again took 16 subs, all but two of whom were used.

QPR had summer transfer goalkeeper Paul Nardi, bought from Gent and he played the full 90 minutes. Nardi made several vital first half saves but was not tested so much in the second half.

Nile John and Yago Santiago were on under 21 duty at St Albans. George Abbott and Sarr had been added to our squad.

Spurs kicked off and again started very brightly. Sarr had a chance inside the first minute, and after a one-two with Son, Sarr turned and tried a left-footed shot, but that was blocked by former Bournemouth and Forest man Steve Cook. Austin was soon in action as the home side responded with Paul Smyth (no relation) hitting a cross which our keeper held.

Werner crossed low from the left and Johnson didn't get enough on it, as the ball crossed the goalmouth. Werner had a shot blocked after Sarr crossed from the bye-line on the right. That move had been started by a confident pass when playing out by Lucas Bergvall. In these early exchanges Spurs played out confidently most of the time.

Son got to the line on the left but hit an angled shot high. Johnson had another cross cleared after another good Spurs build-up. The "Rs" responded with a corner won on the right and an Andersen cross passing through Spurs' goalmouth. Johnson took a pass from Jamie Donley, playing at left back, but somehow reaching the right flank. Johnson's cross was far too strong.

Spurs took their foot off the pedal and came under a little pressure. Bergvall needed treatment when defending a corner and had to be replaced by Kulusevski. Hopefully, Lucas will be able to travel with the rest of the squad on Monday when they leave for a three-match tour in Japan and South Korea.

Johnson did well on the advance and in his delivery to Son who worked the ball onto his left foot only to see Nardi save well, low to his right. Spurs were suffering some strong tackles and Sarr went down, getting nothing from the referee who was adopting a lenient attitude.

Rangers have a 19-year-old winger Rayan Kolli who impressed and gave Austin work to do with a right-footed curler from 25 yards. Kolli has a bit of Chelsea (and Spain) full back Cucurella about him. It must be the hair! Austin pushed the shot onto the bar and out of play. QPR had the ball in the net through Frey, but the offside flag had been raised.

Spurs opened the scoring with an excellent goal scored by Yves Bissouma (his first for the club). After a Spurs throw the ball had been worked to Bissouma some 28 yards out in a central position. He advanced, shared a one-two with Kulusevski before beating the keeper with a well-placed low shot.

"Sonny" tried to turn in a Johnson cross but Nardi got a foot to the ball. Werner then had a chance after a great pass by Kulusevski, but Nardi spread himself and saved.

The entire Spurs team was changed at half-time. Maddison found Lankshear with a clever ball, but Lankshear was shepherded to the left of goal and missed from the narrow angle.

This team struggled more with their play-out play and Gunter had to punch out an early cross, before Emmerson Royal came to the rescue after Gunter's poor attempted pass. Djed Spence was getting some rough treatment and no sympathy from the referee when he won a corner on the right. Nardi made a great save with his left leg from Mikey Moore when fed by Kulusevski.

More substitutions followed midway through this half when Kulusevski was replaced by Veliz. In the latter stages the young Spurs side struggled to get out of their half for too much of the time. Gunter held a deep free-kick cross by Rangers' sub Hevertton Santos, a 23-year-old Brazilian signed this summer.

Alfie Lloyd tested Gunter again with a right-footed effort which took a deflection. A corner followed. Lloyd soon clattered Royal, who complained to the ref and needed treatment. He was hobbling too for a while. Lloyd headed wide from a Rangers' corner. Despite his injury, Royal managed to block a shot by Larkeche at the expense of another corner.

Tyrese Hall had replaced Lankshear, but he too was replaced by Dane Scarlett. Gunter saved a Dykes header well before, against the run of play, Spurs doubled their lead after Mikey Moore crossed hard and low from deep on the left and Dane was on hand to finish at the back post.

We hadn't seen too much of Spurs on the attack in the second half, but the win and clean sheet were welcome, as were the additional minutes in the bank for the players.

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