Tonight, QPR welcome Bolton to Loftus Road, as they look to close the gap on potential runaway leaders Leicester. The R`s failure in the FA Cup meant they`ve been afforded a welcome break after a hectic winter schedule, which will hopefully stand them in good stead tonight.
With the transfer window soon to close, Rangers could do with some extra quality, as key first-team players Danny Simpson and Joey Barton are out injured. An injury to Charlie Austin would be a cataclysmic blow to our promotion chances, so an extra forward of Austin`s standard is a must – easier said than done.
In terms of league form, Bolton head to Loftus Road off the back of a 7-1 mauling by Reading and no doubt Dougie Freedman will be seeking a reaction from his players. They`ll have to do it without the services of David N`Gog, who netted Bolton`s only goal against the Royals, with the former Liverpool man joining Swansea. I`m not sure he will be greatly missed with the Frenchman scoring just three league goals in 17 games this season.
It will be interesting to see if Redknapp adopts an attacking line-up tonight or whether he will stick to type and field a resilient starting XI and change accordingly as the match develops. Reading, who are blessed with multiple wingers with pace, tore the Trotters apart and the Rangers gaffer could be tempted to select Armand Traore and Matt Phillips and hope his team produce a similar performance from wide positions.
QPR Team News:
Danny Simpson is out after sustaining a back injury. Joey Barton is a doubt, while Max Ehmer has been recalled from Carlisle.
Possible line up:
ONUOHA- DUNNE – HILL – ASSOU-EKOTTO
PHILLIPS – HENRY – CARROLL – O`NEILL – KRANJCAR
AUSTIN
Player to watch: –
Bolton Team News:
Stuart Holden remains sidelined with a knee injury but Mark Davies returns.
Possible line up:
MILLS – REAM – KNIGHT – BAPTISTE
EAGLES- SPEARING – M.DAVIES – DANNS- LEE
C.DAVIES
Player to watch: –
Match Facts & Stats
QPR`s 1-0 win in the reverse fixture in August, ended a run of seven league games without a victory against the Trotters (D1 L6).
Bolton have won three of the last five league encounters against QPR at Loftus Road (D1 L1).
Queens Park Rangers are unbeaten in their last eight home league games played on a Tuesday (W5 D3), keeping a clean sheet in their last six.
Bolton have scored 61% of their goals this season in the first half of matches; a league-high share.
QPR have conceded just six goals in the first half this term; no side has conceded fewer.
No side has conceded more first half goals this campaign than Bolton (21).
Bolton have conceded 17 goals in the opening 30 minutes of matches this season (a league-high), while QPR have conceded just three (a league-low).
Charlie Austin has scored five goals in his last six games at Loftus Road.
LAST FIVE
QPR: DWLWW
BOLTON: DWDLL
HEAD 2 HEAD
QPR: 10
BOLTON: 14
Draw: 3
LAST TIME OUT
CHAMPIONSHIP – 24/08/13
REEBOK STADIUM
Bolton 0
QPR 1 (Johnson)
Team: Green, Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Onuoha, SWP (Traore), Barton, Henry, O`Neill, Johnson (Jenas), Austin (Zamora)
Attendance: 14,999
Ref Watch:
Referee: Andy D`Urso
Assistants: Darren Blunden & John Magill
Fourth Official: Gavin Ward
Experienced ref Andy D`Urso is the match official for today’s game against the Trotters. This season, D`Urso has issued 64 yellow cards and 6 red cards in 20 games.
Match Prediction:
1-0 Home Win. Austin Goal.
Next Up
Who: Burnley
Where: Loftus Road
When: 01/02/14