Rs starting new term away from home for first time in three seasons

Jake Bidwell insists it does not matter where Queens Park Rangers will start the new Sky Bet Championship season as the squad prepare for their trip to Preston North End on the opening day of the new campaign this weekend.

The Rs make the long trip to Deepdale this Saturday as they begin a term away from home for the first time in three seasons.

While the first game in each of the last two seasons has seen the west Londoners collect a win at Loftus Road, the last time they started a campaign on the road saw them lose 2-0 at Charlton Athletic in August 2015.

Bidwell, however, says it does not matter much that QPR are away from home on the opening day of the new term, knowing like everyone else they had to make the trip to Preston at some point.

“You’ve got an equal amount of games home and away and you have to go there at some point,” he said.

“Preston is where the fixtures computer has taken us on the opening day of the season, but we’re fully focussed on that game and we will be ready to go on Saturday.”

Bidwell was speaking after QPR ended their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 win at home to German second-tier side Union Berlin last Saturday.

Bright Osayi-Samuel, Matt Smith and Ebere Eze were all on target as Steve McClaren enjoyed a perfect first game at Loftus Road as QPR boss.

More pleasing for left-back Bidwell, though, would have been the clean sheet, which the 25-year-old says is a huge confidence boost ahead of the new campaign.

“We couldn’t have ended pre-season on a better note, scoring three goals and getting a clean sheet,” he added.

“We’re not there yet and we’re still a work in progress, but there are positive signs for us.”

The display on the whole against Union will have pleased McClaren, and Bidwell was thrilled QPR finished their pre-season campaign on a high.

“We got another good result, which is good for morale and it’s the first time the fans have seen us at home,” said the former Everton trainee.

“There are still some things to work on, but we will be ready to go at Preston.”