Preview – QPR v Doncaster

QUEENS Park Rangers are still searching for that confidence-boosting victory to help propel their charge away from the relegation zone.

Following the disappointing postponement against Watford during the week, the R’s must now take their five successive defeat streak back to W12 against Doncaster.

Some might say that it was the reverse fixture that saw the R’s season fall apart before their eyes, with then manager Jim Magilton revealing a few home truths to the players after a poor display.

This was eventually followed up with the debacle at Watford that saw Jim lose his grip on the hot-seat and Rangers’ season fall into a dramatic decline.

Mick Harford’s job has become increasingly insecure in recent weeks with reports that Rangers are eyeing the likes of Alan Curbishley and Neil Warnock – with the latter the more obvious choice.

With change at upheaval constantly at the forefront of proceedings at Loftus Road, Rangers require a much needed three points to stabilise their dramatic sink through the division.

Vital Quotes:

Coventry City 1 (Deegan 10)
QPR 0

Team: Carl Ikeme, Peter Ramage, Damion Stewart, Ákos Buzsáky (Adel Taarabt 67), Kaspars Gork?s, Matt Connolly, Lee Cook, Alejandro Faurlín, Matt Hill, Jay Simpson, Tamás Priskin (Antonio German 55).

Sheffield Wednesday 0
Doncaster Rovers 2 (Ward 40, O’Connor 64)

Team: Neil Sullivan, James Chambers, Elliott Ward, James O’Connor, Sam Hird, Mark Wilson, John Oster, Brian Stock (Jordan Mutch 86), Billy Sharp (Lewis Guy 89), James Coppinger (Dean Shiels 89), James Hayter.

QPR Team News:

Changes should once again be inevitable as Rangers once again put in a lacklustre display against potential relegation rivals Coventry.

Carl Ikeme will in all likeliness continue in goal ahead of Radek Černý with Kaspars Gork?s likely to be partnered by either Damion Stewart or Matt Connolly depending on what formation Harford deploys.

Matt Hill and Peter Ramage look set to continue in their respective full-back berths with Nigel Quashie fighting with the aforementioned Connolly to partner Alejandro Faurlín in midfield.

Whether Harford selects the R’s best player – Adel Taarabt – remains to be seen having been left out of the previous two encounters. He will vie with Ákos Buzsáky and Lee Cook for a spot on the flank.

The game may come too soon for Marcus Bent (hamstring), but Tamás Priskin will be fighting for his spot with Antonio German and Rowan Vine alongside sure starter Jay Simpson.

Martin Rowlands (knee) and Gavin Mahon (knee) remain sidelined, with no word on the possible return date for the influential latter.

Possible line up:

Player to watch: Adel Taarabt

Adel Taarabt remains one of the more dangerous talents at Rangers’ disposal as he prepares to face Doncaster Rovers this weekend.

Inexplicably enough he has been left out of the last two encounters – and indeed was left out at the Keepmoat Stadium owing to disciplinary issues.

His talent is without question however as he looks continually dangerous with the ball in possession, those moments recently have been all too fleeting.

To view his career profile Click Here >>>

Doncaster Rovers Team News:

Sean O’Driscoll has a selection headache on his hands as Doncaster travel to W12 on Saturday, with several key players fit and raring to go at Loftus Road.

Veteran Neil Sullivan should start in goal with loanee Elliott Ward and Sam Hird set to continue in the absence of Jason Shackell with James Chambers and James O’Connor continuing at full back.

Brian Stock, John Oster and Mark Wilson could set to continue their midfield partnership, with James Coppinger playing off duo Billy Sharp, and possibly the returning Dean Shiels.

Rovers are missing Adam Lockwood (foot) and Byron Webster (metatarsal).

Possible line-up:

Player to watch: Billy Sharp

The striker who opened the scoring at the Keepmoat stadium in our 2-0 earlier this season has been selected as our one to watch this weekend.

To read our profile of the player Click Here >>>

Match Facts & Stats

LAST FIVE

Queens Park Rangers: L L L L L
Doncaster Rovers: L L D W W

HEAD 2 HEAD

Queens Park Rangers: 4
Doncaster Rovers: 7
Draw: 1

LAST TIME OUT

Coca Cola Championship – 21-11-2009
Keepmoat Stadium

Doncaster Rovers 2 (Sharp 53, Shiels 65)
QPR 0

Team: Radek Černý, Mikele Leigertwood, Kaspars Gork?s, Matthew Connolly, Gary Borrowdale, Wayne Routledge, Alejandro Faurlín (Adel Taarabt 46), Ben Watson, Steven Reid, Ákos Buzsáky (Patrick Agyemang 63), Jay Simpson (Alessandro Pellicori 63).

SEE ALSO:

QPR 3-1 Doncaster Rovers – 15-09-1958
Doncaster Rovers 1-1 QPR – 21-01-1967

Ref Watch:

Referee: Mr Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)

Assistants: Mr Gary Evetts (Hertfordshire) & Mr Tony Mason (Kent)

Fourth Official:Mr Tim Robinson (West Sussex)

Mr Whitestone will take charge of his third Rangers game as he presides over the Doncaster Rovers fixture tomorrow.

The Northamptonshire based official has refereed games against Coventry City and Colchester United – sadly establishing himself as a card-merchant of the highest order.

To read our report on the official Click Here >>>

Match Prediction:

1-0 Win

Hope doesn’t come into it as a defeat is unthinkable for the R’s as they look to halt the ever-depressing slide, starting tomorrow afternoon.

Doncaster have back to back wins, and Rangers have lost their last five games – so the form book doesn’t look too promising, but that needs to be swept to one side for tomorrow.

Rangers certainly have the players capable of putting Rovers to the sword, it will all depend once more whether the stars of the side step up to the fore and take control of proceedings.

BEAT THE CLOCK >>>

Next Fixtures:

Teams: Middlesbrough v QPR

Date: Saturday February 27, 2010 – 3.00pm

Ground: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough