Uncategorized

QPR face final home game

|
Image for QPR face final home game

It looked for a time like everything for QPR would come down to this one until a fantastic run of form over Easter lifted them away from the relegation zone. Thank goodness they managed it as well because Stoke City are suddenly coming to Loftus Road with it all to play for.

Tony Pulis’ men sit outside the play off zone by just onbe goal and if Wolves, Werst brom or Southampton slip up this weekend they’re keen to be there ready to sneak into the six on the last day.

There is a scenario whereby they can lose and still make it, if Southampton suffer a larger defeat than them at home to Southend, but the easiest thing for them to do would be to win at Loftus Road and hope Barnsley, Leicester or Southend do them a favour.

QPR already have an eye on their summer holidays, and indeed a few of the players have had the past week away in Spain already, but supporters who have suffered appalling treatement by Stoke City Football Club on their last three visits to the Britannia Stadium won’t stand for a lacklustre surrender.

In a week when Luton Town and leeds United have been relegated, and Man Utd and Chelsea kicked out of the Champions League, what better way to finish it all off than by denying Stoke a place in the play offs.

Expect a big away following and plenty of idiots from the north sitting in the home ends.

Lets hope Rangers sign off in style and send them all home disappointed.

This is the final chance for QPR fans to see the likes of Paul Furlong, Steve Lomas and Marc Bircham in a QPR shirt. They, along with another five players, were told their contracts would not be renewed by John Gregory during the week.

Vital Quotes:

Lee Cook – ‘After the Stoke match, there’ll be a few people coming and going this summer, in fact the manager told a few players today they would be moved on. As for me, the chairman’s put a price on my head and whether that will put people off or not I don’t know.

‘If an offer comes in I’ll have to see if they accept it and then I’ll make my decision. Until the chairman decides if he wants to sell me then nothing happens.

‘Obviously I want to play at the highest level, but I want to make sure if I do move that it’s the right move. If and when I get into the Premiership I want to stay there for a good few years and prove I can play at that level, because I think I’ve got the ability.

‘If I go to a team that’s favourite for relegation then it’s going to be hard to stay in there; I want to go to a team that I’ll find difficult to get in, then work my way in and stay there and show that I can play.

‘When that time is I don’t know, but I definitely want it at some stage of my career.’

Tony Pulis – ‘The only match we can affect is the one at QPR and that’s all I’m thinking about.

‘I’ve been in the game too long to start talking about what might be – we have to totally focus on this one game, and it’s going to be tough.

‘QPR are at the bottom end of the table, but they’ve had some good results of late and they’ll be looking to finish the season on a high in front of their own supporters.

‘We’ve sold our allocation of tickets so we’ll get good backing from our fans and there should be a cracking atmosphere at Loftus Road.

‘But all we can do is go down there, get the three points if we possibly can and then look at the League table.’

Queens Park Rangers Team News:

Lee Cook stated on his personal website yesterday that his knee injury meant he wouldn’t be playing this weekend. That article was published at the same time as the official site said he was fit to play.

Michael Mancienne misses out as he continues to suffer the after affects of his head injury. Danny Cullip and Dexter Blackstock should return to the line up.

Player to watch: Lee Cook

It’s been a strange week for Cook. He missed the Wolves game along with Dexter Blackstock – the pair of them given time off by the club. Meanwhile news emerged that the club has borrowed £500k from the chairman of Oldham Athletic against Cook’s name. Then Cook reported on his own personal website that he’d move this summer if the offer was right, and from a club likely to stay in the Premier League rather than endure a relegation. furthermore he said his knee injury would stop him from playing in this one while the club said he is fit to play.

If he does take the field he’s the ky to the QPR performance, if he doesn’t then there will no doubt be more questions than answers about his current status at QPR.

Stoke City Team News:

Rory Delap, Clint Hill, Marlon Broomes, Liam Lawrence (of dodgy porn video fame) and Lewis Buxton will all definitely be missing. Andy Griffin and Marmady Sidibe are also doubtful and face late fitness tests

Player to watch: Ricardo Fuller

Expect the unexpected when Fuller is around. Now a seasoned performer at this level after originally joining Preston from Hearts he has enjoyed spoells with Southampton and Portsmouth before moving to Stoke. Scoring a brilliant solo goal one minute and blasting over from two yards out the next Fuller could be described as a luxury player but QPR will need to watch him closely tomorrow. He also has a suspect temper and has a number of red cards for off the ball incidents to his name down the years – Rangers fans will be hoping danny Cullip is fit enough to commence winding him up come 1pm on Sunday.

Match Facts & Stats

Last six matches
Wolves 2 QPR 0
QPR 1 Cardiff 0
Sunderland 2 QPR 1
QPR 3 Luton 2
Coventry 0 QPR 1
QPR 1 Preston 0
Stoke 3 Colchester 1
Stoke 1 Hull 1
Cardiff 1 Stoke 1
Stoke 2 Palace 1
West Brom 1 Stoke 3
Stoke 4 Leicester 2

Head to Head
QPR wins – 14
Draws – 5
Stoke wins – 7

Last Meeting
Stoke 1 QPR 0

Ref Watch:

For the third time in six matches Uriah Rennie has been scheduled to referee a QPR game and then pulled out. God knows what’s going on with him at the moment – Clive Penton will replace him in the middle.

Match Prediction:

Stoke need to win and QPR don’t. Ultimately, that might just be enough to swing it their way. With a heavy heart I predict a 1-0 Stoke win.

Next Fixtures:

N/A

Share this article