Rangers second pre season game saw a much tougher test as we visited newly promoted Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

John Robertson's team will be facing the giants of Celtic and Glasgow Rangers next season and were a few weeks ahead of QPR in pre season preparations.

This showed in a first half where QPR struggled to make an impact despite fielding a strong side. It was almost a first choice defence with Bignot, Gnohere and Padula alongside Terrell Forbes who was making his first appearance back in the first team since March. Martin Rowlands started the game in central midfield alongside Richard Johnson whilst McLeod and Ainsworth took their places on the wings. Kevin Gallen and Tony Thorpe started up front after both got on the scoresheet a few nights ago.

It was a hard fought first half but Rangers didn't create too many chances and went a goal behind when Steve Hislop fired home a spectacular effort. Rowlands was looking strong in the centre of midfield but chances were few and far between and Ian Holloway made several changes at half time to try and get back in the game.

Rose, Bean, Furlong and Cureton came on for Gnohere, Ainsworth, Gallen and Thorpe whilst trialist Jon Hjelde replaced Terrell Forbes. Hjelde is a strong central defender who played for Notting Forest when they promoted to the Premiership in the late 1990's. The Norwegian is 32 years old and slightly injury prone but is seen as a good player to bring in on a free transfer as defensive cover.

Hjelde had a strong second half as the team improved and got back in the game. It took a few more changes before we got an equaliser as trialist Lewis Hamilton replaced Padula and Wes Daly got another chance when he came on for Richard Johnson. Cureton was starting to get chances and a curling effort from the edge of the box was brilliantly tipped over the bar to deny the striker his first goal of pre season.

From the corner Rowlands delivered and Cureton pounced from close range to bring Rangers level.

The draw was a fair result and left manager Ian Holloway very satisfied. He spoke to the official site after the game and said: "I was delighted with the performance. We started off a bit sluggish, but that is to be expected given that they're a couple of weeks ahead of us in terms of fitness.But we had the better of the second half and although they had scored a fantastic goal it didn't phase us. After half time we just got better and better and I am very satisfied with what I've seen today."

He also had praise for the fans who travelled up to the game to cheer on Rangers. He said: "I would like to thank the fans for taking time out to come up here and get behind the lads. It is greatly appreciated by us all"

And finally, the Holloway praised trialist Jon Hjelde who slotted in well at centre back. He said: "He made a very promising start and he clearly wants to play for us having made the effort to get himself up here. We know him because he played with Jamie Cureton at Busan and we'll see where we go from here."

Rangers now face Ajax at Loftus Road on Wednesday and will be hoping for an improved performance against one of Europe's biggest clubs.

Below is a match report from the excellent Rivals QPR site at http://www.qprnet.com

By Simon Skinner

Olly changed things around following the comfortable win at Nairn County during the week. Day was in goal behind a back four of Bignot, Forbes, Gnohere and Padula. Ainsworth and McLeod played wide with Johnson and Rowlands in the middle of the park. Gallen and Thorpe started the game in attack.

Much of the first half was lacking in any meaningful action as both sides found themselves battling the driving rain and howling wind for much of the time. Rowlands managed to register a shot on target with a freekick midway through the half which was saved comfortably by Caley keeper Brown.

With ten minutes to go until the break The Highlanders took the lead with an absolute stunner. Rangers won a corner and before they knew it Caley had the ball back and were breaking at speed. Some neat interplay between the front two saw the ball bounce into the path of Stevie Hislop and he crashed a right footed volley past Day. The goal drew applause from every person in the crowd no matter who they were following. I am not sure we will concede many better than that this season.

At the break Holloway made wholesale changes. Gnohere, Forbes, Ainsworth, Gallen and Thorpe made way as Rose, trialist Hjelde, Bean, Cureton and Furlong took their places.

The half started much brighter for Rangers and they seemed far more in tune with the pace of the game. The defensive areas seemed noticeably more solid and Hjelde was winning everything, both in the air and on the deck. Rose alongside him was in his unflappable mode, scurrying around averting danger without having to break sweat.

With twenty minutes of the half gone Rangers made two more changes, Johnson and Padula went off to be replaced by Wes Daly and Lewis Hamilton, another trialist. With Daly on Rangers seemed to go up a gear as his range of passing in the middle of the park started to pay dividends. The equaliser came with a little under fifteen minutes remaining.

Jamie Cureton worked some space on the edge of the box and curled an effort goalward which was brilliantly saved by Brown. From the resulting corner the ball pinged around the box before falling at the feet of Cureton to knock home a one yard sizzler. Rangers were now by far the better side but Caley remained solid and there were no more chances to speak of before the ref brought the game to a finish.

The first half showing won't have impressed many people and the central defensive pairing of Forbes and Gnohere were all over the place. Arthur looked like he had missed some training and may also have been taking advantage of the local shortbread as he looked a little on the thick side. At one point he chased a ball and he looked like he was running in super slow-mo! The second half pairing of Hjelde and Rose were a different kettle of fish though and looked solid and commanding. If Hjelde can turn in a similar show against Ajax then he may well be worth a twelve month deal.

Other players that stood out for me were Rowlands, when he moved wide and subs Daly and Hamilton. The versatile Hamilton in particular showed all of the poise and promise he had previously shown for our reserve side and I think he should be snapped up immediately.

Daly was terrific; moving the ball with great accuracy, maybe the less frenetic world of the Fizzy Pop Champions League will suit his game. If he gets the opportunity he won't let anybody down.

The next game against Ajax will be a sterner test of the squad and it is important that we perform well regardless of what the result may be. It will be a good opportunity to test themselves against proven players and a decent showing will give the old confidence a little booster as the start of the season draws ever closer.