Coventry City v QPR – Preview

On Sky

QPR hope to continue the festivities when they travel to the Ricoh Arena to face unexpected play-off contenders Coventry City. Coventry have overachieved by all accounts so far and find themselves in sixth position, one point ahead of Reading.

Aidy Boothroyd has instilled belief in the Sky Blues’ camp and even though they’ve tasted defeat in their last two games they will no doubt be tough opponents to beat especially at the Ricoh where they will play percentage football armed with an array of menacing set piece routines.

Neil Warnock has several reasons to be confident ahead of the match. Firstly Jamie Mackie ended his 15-match goal drought, secondly Adel Taarabt’s return to form and thirdly a much-needed clean sheet against Swansea should all contribute to the R`s confidence going into the match against Coventry.

Last Fixture

QPR 4 (Mackie, Helguson pen, Taarabt x2)
Swansea City

Team: Kenny, Hill (sent off 19), Connolly, Gorkss, Walker, Derry, Taarabt (Rowlands), Faurlin, Mackie, Smith (Orr), Helguson (Hulse )

Cardiff City 2 (Olofinjana, Bellamy)
Coventry City 0

Team: Westwood, Keogh, McPake, Wood, Clarke ( Eastwood), Cameron, Doyle, Carsley, King, Jutkiewicz, McSheffrey (Platt)

Coventry City Team News:

Boss Aidy Boothroyd is set to mix things up after successive defeats. He could hand Marlon King and Freddy Eastwood starts.

Possible line-up:

Player to watch: Keiren Westwood

Keiren Westwood has been identified by danielqpr as the player to watch ahead of this Tuesday’s match against Coventry City.

For Daniel’s comprehensive review of the goalkeeper Click Here >>>

QPR Team News:

Neil Warnock said prior to the victory over Swansea that he would rotate the team over the Christmas period but providing all of Saturday`s participants are fit, the R’s gaffer could be tempted to stick with his winning side.

If he does to choose to freshen things up then Rob Hulse, Patrick Agyemang, Hogan Ephraim and Leon Clarke will be hoping for some involvement.

Peter Ramage and Lee Cook are out, Akos Buzsaky is a doubt. Kyle Walker should resume a more familiar position in defence.

Possible line up:

Player to watch: Heidar Helguson

Neil Warnock’s decision to include Heider Helguson on Saturday proved to be a masterstroke. The Iceman has scored his 6th of the season against Swansea with a coolly placed penalty. Even though the experienced forward got on the score-sheet it was his all round contribution which stood out more.

Helguson’s ability not only to win the majority of headers but to direct them to a team mate meant the R`s attacking game benefitted greatly. His awareness of others is tremendous and without his hold up play the free-flowing attacking football would cease to exist as it is Heider who wins the initial ball, brings it down and lays it off to Taarabt or Faurlin and from there the attacks begin.

The Stat Attack

LAST FIVE

Queens Park Rangers: WWLLW
Coventry City: WWDLL

HEAD 2 HEAD

Queens Park Rangers: 34
Coventry City: 28
Draw: 44

LAST TIME OUT

Coca Cola Championship – 13/02/10

Coventry City 1 (Deegan)
QPR 0

Team: Ikeme, Ramage, Stewart, Connolly, Hill, Gorkss, Buzsaky (Taarabt), Faurlin, Cook, Priskin (German), Simpson

Attendance: 15,247

Ref Watch:

Referee: Mr N Swarbrick

Assistants: Mr W Barratt & Mr S Bennett

Fourth Official: Mr D Coote

Neil Swarbrick is the match official for Tuesday’s game against Coventry City and has officiated 19 games this season. His most recent game was the match between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.

Last season Swarbrick issued 104 yellow cards and eight red cards in 35 games.

Match Prediction:

Before we played Swansea I looked at the upcoming fixtures and couldn’t see where the points would come from but after the superb win on Saturday of course I’m in a more buoyant mood. Having said that I’m still unsure whether or not we will win. Yet again we’re on television and it’s more than an understatement to say we haven’t performed well on the box this season.

I hope QPR stick to what they do best, direct attacking football with traces of flair and physicality. Hopefully Helguson will be fit as we will need him at his best against a physical Coventry side. If QPR can avoid being suckered into a long ball match then I feel we have enough quality to see off the Sky Blues. But we`re on television and if history dictates then I`m afraid a draw is a more feasible result. In hindsight four points over the two festive matches would not be a bad return.

Bore draw 0-0

Next Up

Who: NORWICH CITY

Where: Carrow Road

When: 01/01/11 – 15.00