Swansea City v QPR – Preview

The R’s make the long trip to South Wales on Tuesday night to play their first of two tricky away fixtures this week. The international break has seen several first team players return which should make the upcoming fixtures more manageable. Aided by their cup exit the R’s have had the luxury of playing once, sometimes twice a week which in turn has benefited the squad as injuries have started to mount.

Playing three games in six days is a tough ask and if the R’s can remain unbeaten at the end of this week then confidence will be flowing throughout the squad and QPR will have to be taken very seriously as promotion candidates.

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers has made a bright start in charge of the welsh outfit guiding them to 4th in the league. Swansea boast players with real pace and attacking flair; Scott Sinclair, Nathan Dyer and David Cotterill are all and dangerous players and extremely easy on the eye.

Swansea’s exciting brand of attacking football is a far cry from the defensively astute and rigid style former boss Paulo Sousa implemented. It was effective as the Swans performed above expectations narrowly missing out on the play-offs but in truth it was dull to watch.

Last Fixture

QPR 0
Norwich City 0

Team: Kenny, Hill, Connolly, Gorkss, Walker, Derry, Buzsaky (Leigertwood), Ephraim (Agyemang), Taarabt (Smith), Mackie, Helguson

Reading 0
Swansea City 1(Sinclair)

Team: De Vries, Tate, Williams, Monk, Rangel, Pratley, Gower (Cotterill), Sinclair, Orlandi, Dyer (Serran), Dobbie (Nouble)

Swansea City Team News:

Marvin Emnes could be make his debut against the R’s after signing from Middlesbrough on a one-month loan deal. The Dutchman can play either wing and upfront and should provide good competition for places.

Mark Gower is a doubt after limping off against Reading with a suspected hamstring injury. Boss Brendan Rodgers will also evaluate the fitness of Joe Allen and Kemy Agustien.
Possible line-up:

Player to watch: Scott Sinclair

Scott Sinclair has been identified by DanielQPR as the player to watch ahead of this week`s match against Swansea City.

For all the information regarding the One to Watch Click Here >>>

QPR Team News:

Rob Hulse should be included in the R’s squad for the first time since joining in August. Bradley Orr and Fitz Hall should make the bench again.

After picking up an injury on Saturday, midfielder Akos Buzsaky is out so Mikele Leigertwood and Alejandro Faurlin will battle it out for the remaining centre midfield position. Gavin Mahon is also in contention after re-signing for the club on an initial one-month deal.

Martin Rowlands (Calf) is a doubt whilst Peter Ramage and Lee Cook remain long term absentees. With a match on Friday manager Neil Warnock is expected to rotate in order to keep the players fresh.

Possible line up:

Player to watch: Adel Taarabt

Could this be the Moroccan’s time to shine once again? He hasn’t hit the heights of his earlier season form, but there is no question when this man gets going, Rangers can be an unstoppable force.

He should find space in between Orlandi and Pratley to get at the defenders and should he prove successful then it could be a good evening in the Welsh capital for Rangers.

The Stat Attack

LAST FIVE

Queens Park Rangers: WWDWD
Swansea: WLWDW

HEAD 2 HEAD

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

LAST TIME OUT

Coca Cola Championship – 20/03/10
Loftus Road


QPR 1
Swansea City 1

Team: Ikeme, Ramage, Connolly, Hill, Gorkss, Leigertwood, Buzsaky (German), Ephraim (Vine), Taarabt, Faurlin, Priskin (Cook )

Attendance: 15,502

Ref Watch:

Referee: S Hooper

Assistants: A Hendley & A Newell

Fourth Official: S Knapp

Simon Hooper is the match official for the game this week and has officiated five games this season. His most recent game was Hartlepool`s 1-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle.

Last season Hooper issued 99 yellow cards and 8 Red in 32 games.

To read more on see: Ref Watch

Match Prediction:

Out of the three games this week it is this one that I feel least confident about. Swansea have pace in abundance and bar Kyle Walker we have a fairly slow back four. Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer should cause Clint Hill an untold amount of problems.

This season Clint Hill has done a terrific job at left-back. Many had their doubts when we first signed him but technically he’s a very solid footballer and he is great in the air. As of yet he hasn’t had to face a winger in the mould of Dyer and Sinclair and I just feel that Clint’s chronic lack of pace will be exposed. Hill’s saving grace could be his excellent reading of the game and general positional play.

Other than that I think Shaun Derry should be able to keep Darren Pratley out of the game and I don`t think Stephen Dobbie will have the beating of either Kaspars Gorkss or Matthew Connolly. Kyle Walker has the pace to deal with one of the wingers and is also a terrific threat going forward.

Jamie Mackie and Adel Taarabt are due a goal and I think both are more effective away from home on the counter attack. It will be interesting to see if Rob Hulse gets any game time. I’m a big admirer of him and I think he will provide excellent competition for Heider Helguson once fit.

I think both teams have the players to open up either defence so I’m going for a score draw. I feel it will be a tight game but with plenty of attacking play, similar to the Norwich match.

1-1

Next Up:

Who: Bristol City

Where: Ashton Gate

When: 22/10/10 – 1945