QPR endured only their second defeat of the season last weekend, as Paul Quinn fired home a late winner for Doncaster. The R’s seemed to play with an arrogance against Donny. It appeared the team felt a fragile one-goal lead would be enough to secure a win. How wrong they were. However, Rangers will see the two upcoming home games as a great opportunity to get back to winning ways.
It`s about time Harry Redknapp removes the defensive shackles and goes with a more attacking approach. I`m not suggesting two upfront, as that isn`t always the answer to scoring more goals, but I do feel a greater sense of urgency is needed in our play if we are to trouble teams.
Rangers have players in Hoilett and Phillips who can terrorise defenders at this level; let`s utilise them properly, let`s get crosses into the box for Charlie Austin and let`s get midfielders running from deep to get on the end of rebounds or crosses. You never know, it might result in more goals.
Bournemouth have struggled of late and are without a win in six; only Watford (6) can match the Cherries` winless run in the league. However, as QPR found out last weekend, no team should be underestimated.
Bournemouth and Eddie Howe fit like hand in glove and in my opinion won`t go down. Their home form has been steady (four wins from nine) but they do need to pick up more points on the road (tonight not included). I`m expecting a tough test this evening but QPR`s winning mentality at home should provide the edge.
QPR Team News:
Junior Hoilett and Tom Carroll could be in contention to start. Nedum Onuoha, Alejandro Faurlin and Bobby Zamora all mist out through injury.
Possible line up:
SIMPSON – DUNNE – HILL – ASSOU-EKOTTO
PHILLIPS – BARTON – O`NEILL – HENRY – HOILETT
AUSTIN
Player to watch: Charlie Austin
Charlie Austin – scored 4 goals in his last 4 games at Loftus Road. Austin is QPR’s top scorer with 9 goals in all competitions. Next highest scorers are Joey Barton/Andrew Johnson on just 2 goals, which tells you how over-reliant QPR have been on Austin`s goals this term. Austin will continue to score goals for the R`s but others need to chip in sooner rather than later.
Bournemouth Team News:
Lewis Grabban is a doubt with illness.
Possible line up:
FRANCIS – ELPHICK – COOK
DANIELS – FRASER – O`KANE – ARTER – RITCHIE
PITMAN – RANTIE
Player to watch: –
Stat’s Ya Lot
QPR have conceded just two goals at home this season, no side has conceded fewer in the top four tiers of English football.
The Cherries have scored seven goals from outside the area in open play this term, a joint-league-high with Yeovil.
Charlie Austin has scored four goals in his last four appearances at Loftus Road.
Bournemouth have not kept a clean sheet in their last 10 league trips to Loftus Road, though they have conceded exactly once in six of their last eight.
LAST FIVE
QPR: DWDWL
BOURNEMOUTH: LLDLD
HEAD 2 HEAD
QPR: 32
Bournemouth: 26
Draw: 14
LAST TIME OUT
CHAMPIONSHIP – 24/01/04
The Fitness First Stadium
Bournemouth 1 (Feeney)
QPR 0
Team: Day, Forbes, Palmer, Rose, Shittu, Padula, Bircham, Rowlands, Marney (Thorpe), Gallen, Furlong.
Attendance: 8,909
Ref Watch:
Referee: Andy Woolmer
Assistants: Nicholas Cooper & Colin Lymer
Fourth Official: Iain Williamson
Andy Woolmer is the match official for tonight`s game against the Cherries. This season, Woolmer has issued 31 yellow cards and 0 red cards in 13 games.
Match Prediction:
2-0 Home win. Phillips and Austin to score.
Next Up
Who: Blackburn
Where: Loftus Road
When: 07/12/13