ALAN KEY Head boy strikes to leave Mac seriously Browned off

Preston ...... 1 QPR ...... 0

U2 were No.1 with I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For the last time QPR managed an opening-day victory on the road – which summed up the feelings of boss Steve McClaren.

A second-half header from

Alan Browne was enough to see off a youthful Hoops side that never really got going.

But the ex-England boss is backing his young guns to come good over the next few weeks.

“This team is the future of QPR,” said McClaren (right) returning after 18 months away from the game.

“But we need to surround them with players with experience. I like this team but they are young. We have only brought in one

signing but we need more and are still searching for that. We want to play football and the thing that probably disappointed me the most is we did not really do that.” A slow burner of a match lacked any real sparkle until five minutes after the restart. Josh Harrop sent a hanging free-kick to Browne at the back post and, with Republic No.2 Roy Keane looking on, the Irishman sent the ball looping back slowly into the top corner. Preston, though, were constantly frustrated by QPR skipper Toni Leistner who blocked, headed and tackled his way to an impressive debut. Callum Robinson gave North End far more attacking flair after switching from left to right wing and drew a great save from Matt Ingram midway through the second half. The home side, down to 10 men after a head injury to Tom Clarke with all subs made, were given a late scare when keeper Declan Rudd had to be at his very best to superbly deny Idrissa Sylla from point-blank range.

Preston boss Alex Neil said: “I was a bit apprehensive towards the end because we hadn’t scored that goal to finish the game off.

“For all our play in the first half we should have scored goals. For all our good play, we scored from a scruffy bit of play – but that sums up the Championship.”

Their lack of firepower was mainly down to injuries to Sean Maguire and Billy Bodin this week and Neil added: “We have lost two very important players and need to strengthen the top end of the pitch. We hope to get some bodies in to strengthen the squad.”