QPR 2-2 Cardiff City: Bluebirds relinquish two-goal lead to draw against Championship side
Brian Barry-Murphy's men were back in pre-season action against Championship opposition and drew the game 2-2
Cardiff City squandered a two-goal lead to draw against Championship outfit QPR in their penultimate pre-season friendly fixture.
By Glen Williams
Wednesday 23rd July 2025
The Bluebirds were in total control of proceedings in the first half, with a well-taken goal from Callum Robinson and a howitzer from Rubin Colwill putting Brian Barry-Murphy's side firmly in charge. However, QPR hit back through Kader Dembele late on in the first half, before the Bluebirds dropped off a little after the break and were punished through a breakaway Jaylan Pearman strike.
The defence still seems to be a major problem and needs addressing before the season starts.
City showed some really positive start, particularly in attack. But, again, they will be disappointed with that creaking defence, which has conceded so many goals in the last two years.
Nevertheless, another valuable learning experience for the new gaffer, who still has some things to work on before that season opener in 10 days' time.
The encouraging thing from a Cardiff standpoint was just how in control they were of proceedings right from the get-go. They suffocated QPR with incredibly intense, high pressing and played the vast majority of the first half in QPR's half. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community
It seemed a matter of time before that high press would yield results and Cardiff had to wait only seven minutes for that to happen. Rubin Colwill robbed Sam Field of the ball just 20 yards from his own net, before the Welshman —who has been criticised for his decision-making in the past— calmly slotted through Robinson, who drilled low beyond Paul Nardi.
Colwill would himself turn the scorer just seven minutes later — and, to paraphrase Gerry Cinammon, she was a belter.
Isaak Davies turned a ball inside to his Welsh team-mate, who drove from 30 yards out to within 20 yards of the goal. He looked up, picked his spot and rifled it into the postage stamp, leaving Nardi rooted to the floor this time.
Cardiff were utterly dominant, encouraged by the booming Barry-Murphy voice on the touchline. It was disappointing, from a Bluebirds standpoint, to see them concede before the break.
A rare QPR foray into City's half saw the visitors struggle to deal with the ball and get it sufficiently clear. A loose ball then rolled into the path of Kader Dembele, who struck the ball as sweetly as Colwill had 20 minutes earlier, smacking it low into the bottom corner past Matt Turner to halve the deficit.
Not long after the break, Cardiff had the ball in the net again after a well-worked move — but it was ruled out. Colwill made a clever run down the flank, chopped inside and picked out Ryan Wintle at the edge of the box.
Wintle, who impressed throughout, swept the ball into the bottom corner, but Isaak Davies, who was in front of the 'keeper, was adjudged to have been offside.
As the game wore on, QPR looked more dangerous, while substitutions just saw City's structure and tempo suffer.
Cardiff's high line then worked against them on 70 minutes, when
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