Preview – QPR v Swansea

NEIL Warnock seeks to maintain his 100% home record as his Swansea City counterpart Paulo Sousa, makes his return to Loftus Road.

The former R’s boss will look to do the double over his former side following the convincing two goal victory at the Liberty Stadium earlier this season.

Rangers come of the back of a late defeat against Reading – Warnock’s first in charge – and will look to bounce back against a Swansea side who have won only once in their last four games.

It wasn’t that long ago that the two locked horns at Loftus Road with Sousa being sent to the stands for his reaction to a Claude Davis tackle, and Sousa has been quick to commence with the war of words.

The Swansea boss has criticised Warnock for his style of play in the build up to this weekend’s game presumably to deflect attention away from his side’s recent form.

One thing is for certain, Warnock and Rangers won’t need any further motivation to pick up their fourth successive home victory and spark their progress towards the top half.

Last Fixture

Reading 1 (Sigurdsson 85pen)
QPR 0

Team: Carl Ikeme, Matt Connolly, Damion Stewart (Sent Off 45), Kaspars Gork?s, Matt Hill, Adel Taarabt (Peter Ramage 81), Alejandro Damián Faurlín, Mikele Leigertwood, Hogan Ephraim, Tamás Priskin (Antonio German 87), Jay Simpson.

Swansea City 0
West Bromwich Albion 2

Team: Dorus De Vries, Alan Tate, Ashley Williams, Garry Monk, Àngel Rangel, Leon Britton (Guillem Bauzà 86), Darren Pratley, Mark Gower (Craig Beattie 80), Nathan Dyer (David Cotterill 80), Cedric van der Gun, Shefki Kuqi

QPR Team News:

Neil Warnock will be forced to make his first changes as Rangers boss – having previously named an unchanged line-up for four successive games.

Carl Ikeme retains the number one spot ahead of Radek Černý and Matt Connolly is the most likely to partner Kaspars Gork?s, with Damion Stewart serving his suspension.

Matt Hill should retain his place with Peter Ramage slotting in at right full-back, while Alejandro Faurlín and skipper Mikele Leigertwood should link up in the middle once more.

Hogan Ephraim and Lee Cook will battle it out for a place on the left while Adel Taarabt will start wide right, but roam constantly from this position to aid the R’s strike force.

Tamás Priskin has played four successive times without truly pulling up trees and he will fight with Marcus Bent, Antonio German and Rowan Vine for a place alongside Jay Simpson.

Martin Rowlands (knee) and Gavin Mahon (knee) remain the only long term absentees.

Possible line up:

Player to watch: Alejandro Faurlín

Alejandro Faurlín has been in sparkling form in recent games and looks to make the difference as Swansea come to town tomorrow.

The young Argentinean is showing a maturity that belies his years in the heart of midfield, as he links up well with Mikele Leigertwood.

Faurlín has endeared himself to Warnock already with his stylish performances, and this will be something he looks to continues this weekend.

To read his career profile Click Here >>>

Swansea City Team News:

Swansea City have no fresh injury concerns ahead of tomorrow’s clash against Queens Park Rangers, with a timely boost for a returning forward.

Dorus de Vries will be in goal behind a back four of Àngel Rangel, Ashley Williams, skipper Garry Monk and left full-back Alan Tate.

Swansea like to pack the midfield with Darren Pratley, Leon Britton, and either Cedric van der Gun or Tom Butler joining them in an advanced role.

Nathan Dyer and Dave Cotterill will vie for their spots in the side with Mark Gower starting on the left, with Craig Beattie and Championship journeyman Shefki Kuqi battling it out for a starting place.

Albert Serrán (hamstring), Joe Allen (knee) and Ferrie Bodde remain sidelined.

Possible line-up:

Player to watch: Nathan Dyer

Nathan Dyer has been outlined as the One to Watch this weekend as the pacey winger looks to cause the R’s full-backs some serious problems.

The former Southampton wide-man has performed well under Paulo Sousa, injecting a spark of creativity and life down both flanks.

In the test earlier this season he was a key player as he ran Gary Borrowdale ragged down the right hand side – he will face Matt Hill this weekend, a very different prospect.

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

The Stat Attack

LAST FIVE

Queens Park Rangers: L W W D L
Swansea City: W L W D L

HEAD 2 HEAD

Queens Park Rangers: 16
Swansea City: 10
Draw: 9

LAST TIME OUT

Coca Cola Championship – 03/10/2009
Liberty Stadium

Swansea City 2 (Gower 74, Trundle 85)
Queens Park Rangers 0

Team: Radek Černý, Mikele Leigertwood, Kaspars Gork?s, Damion Stewart, Gary Borrowdale, Wayne Routledge, Ben Watson (Sent Off 77), Martin Rowlands (Sent Off 53), Ákos Buzsáky (Adel Taarabt 76), Rowan Vine (Alejandro Faurlín 61), Jay Simpson (Alessandro Pellicori 76).

SEE ALSO:

QPR 4-2 Swansea – 08-10-1966
Swansea 1-2 QPR 31-01-1981

Ref Watch:

Referee: Mr Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)

Assistants: Mr Andrew Laver (Hampshire) and Mr Adrian Sannerude (Suffolk)

Fourth Official:Mr Warren Atkin (West Sussex)

A more experienced official takes to the field this weekend after the Mr Ward debacle on Tuesday night, when an inconsistent fussy performance blighted the game at the Madejski.

Mr Wright has had charge of Rangers six times, and seems a lucky mascot for QPR with the R’s undefeated in every game he has presided over.

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

Match Prediction:

1-0 Win

Another difficult test for Neil Warnock, but back to the comfort of home soil and the R’s have every chance of picking up the maximum against Swansea.

The Swans – like Rangers under Sousa – have failed to hit the target on a consistent basis, instead opting for a solid defence.

If the R’s are to win it would probably be by the odd goal, but should Sousa let his attackers off the leash there is potential for the Swans to bag a goal.

LCF’S CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION LEAGUE >>>

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Next Up

Teams: QPR v Derby County

Date: Tuesday March 23, 2010 – 8.00pm

Ground: Loftus Road, London