QPR Under-21s overcome Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday

Goals from Sandro and Olamide Shodipo (2) seal comfortable victory

Leroy Fer and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas also feature at Harlington



SANDRO stepped up his return to fitness by scoring one of three goals in QPR Under-21s’ win over Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday afternoon.Sandro – who was joined by Leroy Fer and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas in the starting XI – opened the scoring at Harlington, where Olamide Shodipo’s double either side of half-time sealed victory.The Brazilian lasted 60 minutes on his comeback, likewise Fer, as the midfield pair continued to edge ever closer to a First Team comeback.Rangers came flying out of the traps, with only the woodwork denying Tom Rosenthal a second-minute opener as his early effort crashed against the crossbar.Five minutes later and it was Emmanuel-Thomas’ turn to go close. His low shot was just about kept out by the legs of Crewe ‘keeper Kieran Harrison.Harrison was wrong-footed soon after, though. Sandro connected well with a volley 20 yards out, and a wicked deflection sent it sailing into the opposite corner to give Rangers a deserved lead.The crossbar denied Rangers a second from their next attack again, as Jake Mulraney this time saw a volley clip the woodwork.Mulraney turned provider on 19 minutes. His cross fell to Osman Kakay at the far post, whose driven shot was blocked by Harrison.At the other end, Crewe’s first sight of goal came midway through the first period but Brown’s effort found neither the far corner or team-mate George Cooper at the back post.Instead, it became 2-0 ten minutes before the break. Kakay was brought down by Harrison in the box, giving Shodipo the chance to slide his penalty inside the left-hand post.And the winger would have added to his tally before half-time, but Harrison twice denied him in the space of 30 seconds.His opposite number was finally called into action after the re-start, as Joe Lumley did well to block Callum Ainley.Lumley had Harly Wise to thank for clearing Ainley’s next effort off the line.He was beaten midway through the second-half, though, after Kakay clipped Brown from behind. The same player stepped up from the spot, guiding his penalty beyond Lumley’s despairing dive.But the R’s two-goal lead was restored – and victory assured 11 minutes from time. Emmanuel-Thomas jinked inside and found Shodipo, who was on hand to slam the ball into the roof from two yards.Crewe would have pulled another goal back late on, but Lumley twice tipped away efforts from George Cooper as Rangers ran-out comfortable 3-1 winners.Lumley, Kakay, Kpekawa, Wise, Antonio, Sandro (Mitchell 61), Shodipo, Rosenthal, Fer (Crichlow 61), Mulraney, Emmanuel-Thomas.Subs not used: Hudnott, Manning.Sandro 12, Shodipo 35 pen, 79.