Two for Helguson in QPR win

Crawley Town 2 QPR 4

Heidar Helguson scored twice as QPR continued their pre-season campaign with another win.

Kaspars Gorkss and Lee Cook also found the net for Rangers, who rested a number of first-team players ahead of Friday’s friendly at Luton.

They controlled most of this match and took an early lead when Gorkss’ header from Akos Buzsaky’s left-wing corner was blocked, and the Latvian followed up by smashing the loose ball into the net.

Gorkss was paired at the back with Bruno Perone, a Brazilian defender Rangers initially did not regard as a likely signing, but whose performances have led them to extend his pre-season stay.

There was also another appearance by former Ipswich goalkeeper Brian Murphy, whose move to QPR following his recent trial is expected to be confirmed soon.

Murphy played the first half and spent much of it watching his opposite number Scott Shearer being kept busy.

Shearer could not stop Gorkss’ opener, but the experienced Crawley keeper then did well to hold Buzsaky’s free-kick and even better to push away Matt Connolly’s 30-yarder.

When Murphy was finally called upon, he dived to his left to brilliantly to keep out Ben Smith’s acrobatic effort.

Rangers went further ahead early in the second half.  Cook created some space for himself near the edge of the penalty box and drove the ball into the danger area, where an unmarked Helguson finished from close range.

Cook, on as a half-time substitute, looked surprisingly sharp for a man who has seen so little match action. As well as his goal he produced some nice touches and a couple of useful crosses.

His assist for Helguson’s goal put Rangers firmly in command, but Crawley halved the deficit on 57 minutes courtesy of Charlie Wassmer’s header.

Rangers’ two-goal lead was restored when Buzsaky found himself through on goal and drew Shearer from his line before cleverly teeing up Helguson, who had the simple task of slotting into an empty net.

Cook netted QPR’s fourth with a thunderous shot that beat Shearer at his near post, before Troy Hewitt missed a late chance by heading wide from fellow substitute Michael Doughty’s cross.

Rangers switched off for both Crawley’s goals, the second of which came when Scott Neilson set up Wassmer to score his second of the night.