QPR 4-2 Manchester United: As it happened

A big thanks to everybody following my live match updates. For all the latest news and reaction to that news, be sure to follow VAVEL UK. 

Enjoyed talking you all through this. A really good game of football from the purists point-of-view. Defensive coaches might have been tearing their hair out, however. 

Headlines will of course be hyperbolic but you can never make too much of pre-season. 

For Queens Park Rangers, it's a huge confidence booster ahead of the new EFL Championship campaign in two weeks time. But the tempo of matches in that campaign are bound to be higher.

In the other camp, Manchester United will happily welcome back a number of their more well known stars. For their 4-3-3 setup to work, Solskjaer will need his key-men back in the fold. It is a tough formation to perfect and some of the players who were involved today were given a good lesson, especially those in defensive areas. 

 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed a three year contract extension earlier today, and then this happens. You couldn't write the script!

The Norwegian will still have taken some positives from the match, however, with several youngsters getting some invaluable levels of experience. Anthony Elanga looks like a very exciting prospect, and he scored a great goal!

Jesse Lingard and Mason Greenwood also performed well. 

And that's a wrap! A wonderful game of football, especially as a neutral viewer! There was a great deal of pre-season naivety from United and that simply added to the spectacle. 

QPR were outstanding. Their tactical setup has the potential to really throw the cat amongst the pigeons this season. They had a strong end to their season in the last campaign and they'll be hoping for a good start to this upcoming league competition. 

90: Dykes was inches away from his hat-trick as he anticipated a cut-back, but the United defence smuggled the ball clear. Elanga then broke down the lines and his excellent cross wasn't followed-up by anybody in the centre. 

89: Substitute Thomas went on a great surging run, skipping past four United challenges but his scuffed shot was easily claimed by Grant.

87: United could have scored five or six today, if they had been more clinical in attacking areas. Conversely, QPR could have had five or six themselves. A crazy game. 

The first-half was enjoyable, without much spice, but the second period has been a blockbuster of a watch!

86: Dykes nearly has his hat-trick but he can't make a clinical contact to a wonderful ball at the back post. Nobody was picking up the Scot. Good opportunity.

 

80: Walsh made a smart double save to keep out the United attackers. Walsh initially gave the ball straight to Hugill but he made amends with a smart reaction block. He then stopped Elanga's effort from finding the corner.

 

78: Grant called into action with a smart save at his near post. Rare attack in the last ten minutes for QPR.

77: Lovely play in the attacking third from United, toying with the QPR defence. Eventually, Elanga gets in behind but it's a tepid effort from the winger and Walsh easily gathers. 

73: The QPR defence are a little slow to react as Elanga receives the ball in a central position. The youngster takes two touches before cutely bending the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the box. Game on!

73: GOAL! CURLER FROM ELANGA!!!

71: Cheers from the home faithful with every pass that they complete. Controlling the tempo and moving the ball with confidence. The move results in Adomah powering past Williams but Dykes' header is wide. 

71: This will be so pleasing for Mark Warburton. He is a manager who wants to play attractive and attacking football. This has been a grade A display against a very good team. 

70: The QPR wing-backs have terrorised United and their system has come out on top. United's 4-3-3 has looked good in patches but they have looked fragile in the defensive zone. 

69: Well, I've just collected myself. What a brilliant second-half this has been! Not easy to keep you updated on, though! 

 

 

64: And breathe! Amid all of that, there were some substitutions. Pray for the text commentators! We will get that news to you ASAP.

 

60: Elanga could have made the score 3-2 just moments before but his one-on-one was stopped by the keeper. QPR broke quickly and Dykes powered inside Williams before hitting a rasping strike into the far corner. An incredible result!

60: GOAL! DYKES WITH HIS SECOND!!!

59: Odubajo, the trialist, has just scored a beauty! Poor closing down from United bodies, with Pereira and Williams just letting him shift inside. However, his rocket from 30-yards is outstanding! Grant cannot believe it. 

58: GOAL! ODUBAJO WITH A STUNNER!!!

57: Pereira shifts inside and works himself an angle but Walsh parries it away, albeit not very far. The QPR defence manage to mop up. 

55: United started the second-half well but that was really sloppy defending. An inexperienced back-line looking exactly that. Also lacking that protection in-front. 

53: United all at sea at the back, twice failing to properly clear a ball into the box. The ball drops kindly for Dykes, who thumps a shot, via a slight deflection, away from the despairing dive of Grant. 

53: GOAL! DYKES!!!

51: Pereira slips Elanga in on goal and the rapid youngster sqaures for Lingard to tap home. The flag belatedly goes up and it looked like a close call!

47: Elanga was through on goal after breaking past the defence but his heavy touch is seized upon by Dieng. 

46: Lee Grant, Juan Mata, Anthony Elanga and James Garner all coming on. 

Tom Heaton, Nemanja Matic, Daniel James and Facundo Pellistri off.

For QPR, it's Lyndon Dykes in for Charlie Austin. Jimmy Dunne for Jordy de Wijs. Dieng is also out for Joe Walsh

Getty Images: Marc Atkins

Yoann Barbet's delivery for the Austin goal was wonderful. The left-centre back really pushed up in that moment. Warburton's 3-5-2 is working wonderfully well in this clash so far. It's giving them a platform to build-up from. 

Getty Images: Ash Donelon

Good workout for both teams. QPR clearly slightly ahead in their fitness programme: fitter, hungrier and a bit sharper. They got into a lot of good opportunities but the final pass was just lacking.

United started well but sloppy defending let them down just a few minutes later. Lingard and Greenwood have been bright but James looks a little rusty, as does Matic.

44: It has been an entertaining affair so far, with neither team really gaining an advantage. Two chances have lead to two goals and nobody has really managed to fashion another opening. 

42: Been very little in terms of opportunity thus far, but a chance opened up for James. Greenwood passed to the Welshman and but his 25-yard effort was well blocked. 

38: Willock found Wallace and the wing-back's cross in forces Tuanzebe into a panicked clearance. 

35: Mengi is caught cold by a lofted ball over the top but Heaton is quick to sweep the ball away from Austin. Again, no real golden opportunity at the end of it but some good play by the hosts.

34: QPR are putting together some really neat patterns of play. Willock and Chair are really competing well in the middle of the pitch. Good press from Rangers and good combative football. 

28: Chair's having a blast in the QPR midfield. United are really struggling to keep up with him and his intricate pass to Wallace looks to have set the wing-back away, only for the offside flag to deny them. 

26: Lots of neat play from both teams but little goalmouth action, other than the goals. Great noise from both sets of fans, though, with the travelling United fans making themselves heard!

21: The 4-3-3 formation is making United look quite open. Tougher examinations will come when the league campaign starts.

19: Odubajo's cross was straight at Heaton and United countered. James motored down the vacated space on the right, but his inevitable cross was also too close to the goalkeeper.

17: Heaton was getting a lot of early touches before conceding from Austin's header. The 35-year-old started his career at Old Trafford but never broke into the team. He's living the dream, at the moment.

16: Greenwood and Lingard are getting a lot of the ball and they always look threatening. Lingard, in particular, will be trying to put himself on the shop window. 

14: Foul my Matic in the middle of the park after good play from United. Back to the equaliser, credit Barbet for the inviting cross which Austin headed home. Wan-Bissaka couldn't get close enough.

12: Lovely footwork from Willock in the middle of the pitch. Both teams want to play football and there's a good atmosphere within the stadium. 

7: At the other end, Austin headed home unmarked with Mengi not following the striker's run. 

A few technical issues over here but I am ploughing on. Very open start in London!

7: GOAL! AUSTIN HEADS HOME!

3: GOAL! LINGARD!!!!! Pellistri threaded Lingard in behind a static Rangers defence and the number-14 found the net with ease. 

2: Bright start by United. Lingard finding space in the middle of the pitch before trying to release James with a cure flick. It didn't quite happen but promising from Lingard.

1: United get us underway! 

Approximately 12,000-13,000 spectators in the stadium. It's great to see!

Lyndon Dykes was strutting his stuff for Scotland in Euro 2020 and so he will be late back to pre-season. The troublesome forward was QPR's top goalscorer last season, finding the net 12 times in the EFL Championship.

The loss of Alex Telles is a blow to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who could be without Luke Shaw for the start of the new season. Shaw broke some of his ribs during Euro 2020 and he needs time to heal. 

 

I'm not here to promote any specific odds but I think Mason Greenwood would be a good shout for the first goalscorer. Ruthless on either foot, Greenwood is one of the brightest youngsters across Europe. 

An exciting match for the fans of Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United. The first match into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's new deal.

Mark Warburton's reputation has been up and down but his tenure at Queens Park Rangers has been solid. Last season's 9th placed finish has provided something to build upon. 

Warburton was a miracle worker at Brentford but he then flopped at Rangers and Nottingham Forest. This is his opportunity to turn his fortunes back around. 

 

 

Jesse Lingard was a revelation when he last played in London. The Manchester United academy talent thrived at West Ham United when he played on loan at the London Stadium. 

Lingard will hope to succeed at Old Trafford but, in reality, he will want to impress any other clubs who might be watching. He will have to move to play regularly. 

Queens Park Rangers boast Albert Adomah's unpredictability on the substitute's bench. The winger is fast, skilful and capable of the spectacular but, unfortunately, he has never been able to deliver enough in the vital moments. Always exciting to watch, though!

Manchester United look to be trialling a 4-3-3 formation, with Jesse Lingard featuring as the number-ten or an advanced number-eight. 

Facundo Pelisitri and Daniel James look set to flank Mason Greenwood in the central forward position. 

James' return is a little surprising when you consider that Scott McTominay hasn't returned to the squad. The combative midfielder featured in all three of Scotland's Euro 2020 matches but the Scots failed to get out of their group. Solskjaer will hope that he can get the big man back soon.

Daniel James had an excellent Euro 2020 with Wales, using his pace effectively throughout the group stages. His return is a little unexpected, given that the Welsh actually reached the knockout stages of the competition, but the former Swansea City man will be looking to stake an early claim.

Good to see my colleague from VAVEL Brazil covering the match as a live text commentary!

 

Starting XI: Dieng, Odubajo, Dickie, De Wijs, Barbet; Wallace, Ball, Dozzell, Willock; Chair, Austin.

Subs: Walsh, Kakay, McCallum, Dykes, Thomas, Adomah, Kelman.

Starting XI: Heaton; Wan-Bissaka, Mengi, Tuanzebe, Williams; Pereira, Matic (C), Lingard; Pellistri, James, Greenwood.

Subs: Grant, Bishop, Fish, Bernard, Galbraith, Garner, Levitt, Hannibal, Mata, Shoretire, Elanga, Hugill.

 

 

 

Photo: Ash Doneton/GettyImages

Brad's summary of the Jadon Sancho move was summarised a few days ago on VAVEL.

Our Deputy Editor-in-Chief was quick to react and summarise Jadon Sancho's move from Borrusia Dortmund.

 

The game will be broadcasted live on MUTV. Kick-off is at 15.00 BST. If you are unable to watch the match on MUTV then VAVEL UK is your best way to follow. Like updates throughout the match, with a bit of humour where appropriate! 

Tough one to call. Manchester United have tremendous quality within their ranks but many of their star names will not be involved. However, many of those stepping in are more than capable of getting a result in this type of match.

QPR have a big roster to choose from and Warburton will be seeking a fitness booster as much as anything. However, a positive result would be a big boost to their ambitions ahead of a long and challenging Championship season.

Prediction: Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Manchester United

These two haven't faced each other competitively since 2015. Goals from Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson completed a 2-0 Manchester United victory at the then titled Loftus Road. Louis van Gaal's team won the reverse match of that season by four-goals-to-nil. 

Mason Greenwood would have been involved in Euro 2020 if he hadn't suffered an injury just beforehand. Greenwood is an exciting young talent who is very two-footed. He is ruthless in front of goal and his movement is very good. Most of Greenwood's minutes have been from right-midfield, however, his future is in the centre-forward position. 

Charlie Austin has always been a predatory goalscorer. The striker was outstanding for QPR when they were in the Premier League. He scored 18 goals in 35 appearances during the 2014-15 season, finding the net against Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.

Manchester United recently signed Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund for £73-million but the England international is still on his holidays. Sancho, alongside a number of United players, was involved in Euro 2020; he is among a number of players who are yet to return to training. 

That means many players on the fringe will get an opportunity to impress. Jesse Lingard, Axel Tuanzebe and Juan Mata will be looking to impress. Teden Mengi is an exciting prospect as well. 

Mason Greenwood and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are the highest profile names who should feature. 

Possible line-up: Heaton; Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Mengi, Telles; Matic; Garner, Shoretire; Mata, Greenwood, Lingard.

Mark Warburton should have a fairly full squad to pick from. He could start with two Charlie's up-front, Kelman and Austin, and the latter knows all about scoring against top-level opposition. 

Warburton could field two separate elevens in each half, bidding to get his squad as close to full fitness as he can.

Possible starting XI: Dieng; Adomah, Kakay, Dickie, Barbet; Wallace, Field, Dozzell; Willock, Kelman, Austin.

This game comes on the same day that Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed a three-year contract with the club. His improved deal will now run out in 2024. Big day for the Norwegian! 

QPR finished 9th last season but they were still nine points off a play-off position. It was their sixth consecutive season in the EFL Championship. 

Queens Park Rangers vs Manchester United will be played at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. The stadium holds 18,439 spectators. A good opportunity for the Rs to roll back the years after their stint in the Premier League. 

Good afternoon. I'm Jonny Bentley, VAVEL UK's Editor-in-Chief, and I'm going to be talking you through this match. Here at VAVEL, we will provide you with pre-game analysis, score updates, and news as it happens.

For other breaking news and reaction to that breaking news, VAVEL is the number-one place to be!