please log in to view this image QPR face another difficult test on Tuesday afternoon as we head down south to face high-flying Brighton at the AMEX stadium live on Sky Sports. In what has so far been a disappointing Championship campaign for the R’s, they perhaps face their most challenging proposition all season. The Seagulls lie 2nd in the table, eight points away from third place Reading and are unbeaten in their last 16 league games. You have to go back to the beginning of October since Rangers last recorded an away victory and that was against west London rivals Fulham. There’s been some close encounters since but you get the feeling Holloway’s men will have to be at their best to come away with anything against last season’s play-off semi-finalists. Despite never being in the Premier League, Brighton are a growing club both on and off the pitch. The AMEX stadium is one of the most attractive in England and in three of the last four seasons they have reached the play-offs in the Championship but have fallen at the semi-finals each time. After their strong first half of the season they will be hoping to avoid the play-offs altogether and finish in the top two. Since Hughton took over at Brighton almost two years ago the team have done nothing but progress. He guided them away from the relegation zone in 2014/15 and last season they only missed out on automatic promotion via goal difference. They suffered heartache in the play-offs against Sheffield Wednesday but have so far faced no hangover with only Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle amassing more points than the Seagulls. A crucial factor in Brighton’s rise over the years has been their successful recruitment policy. Players like Dale Stephens, Glenn Murray and Anthony Knockaert have proven to be bargains for Hughton’s men and once again been consistent performers this season. please log in to view this image Team News QPR: Jordan Cousins missed our last match and remains a doubt for this one with a hamstring injury. Steven Caulker (hip) and Jack Robinson (hamstring) remain out but Jamie Mackie could start his first game of the season after coming off the bench against Aston Villa. Idrissa Sylla and Olamide Shodipo are also pushing for recalls to the first team. Brighton: Albion manager Chris Hughton will have Jamie Murphy and Uwe Huenemeier available for selection again, following their successful recoveries from injury. Beram Kayal is back training with his team-mates, but Hughton will look to ease the central midfielder back into action with the Brighton under-23s in the New Year. Brighton Starting Xl? Stockdale, Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong, Knockaert, Stephens, Sidwell, Skalak, Murray, Hemed. QPR Starting Xl? please log in to view this image MATCH ODDS QPR win: 5/1 Draw: 11/4 Brighton: 6/10 QPR first goal scorer: Conor Washington 9/1 Brighton first goal scorer: Glenn Murray 3/1 LAST TIME OUT Brighton 4 – 0 QPR – Championship, Tuesday 19th April 2016 Brighton goal-scorers: Anthony Knockaert x2, Jiří Skalak, Connor Goldson HEAD TO HEAD (In all competitions) QPR wins: 30 Draws: 17 Brighton wins: 30 MATCH OFFICIALS Referee: Keith Stroud Assistant Referees: Derek Eaton and Mark Pottage Fourth official: James Linington please log in to view this image Rita Ora is an 'R' please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
This doesn't bode well ... QPR face daunting trip to the beach ... http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/44574
After Newcastle's home loss to Sheff Wed, Brighton will go top if they beat us - I only hope we can mess up their day.
Were heading to the beach ................ we need to be wary of their shark-like attack and careful we don't get carried away in their midfield rip or we may be drowning our sorrows after the game. Ollies CPR medics on board the SS Rangers Blue Star line may be required.
I fear this is another loss on Sky. Hopefully just by a goal or two after a half decent show. On the other hand, it's 11 v 11 and on the day, who knows what Ollie might pull out of the bag. Bumped into a kid wearing a QPR shirt on Christmas Eve in a cafe. He told me he had tried to get tickets for this game and it was sold out! Huge respect again to the travelling fans.
I honestly cannot see us getting a point today. Think I will break out the port and watch on the TV. Ollie needs some cash in January, I hope TF hasn't spent all his money on Christmas pressies.
Happy fake Boxing Day all. Big respect to anyone dragging themselves down to the seaside today. A big test for a struggling team. And, come that, a struggling club. I think we need a Nugent/Rhodes type signing just to show that the owners haven't given up. But I fear it might not make much difference. Ollie, charming as he is in his idiosyncratic way, love for the club undoubted, is what he is - a 'character' with his best days behind him and a keen sense of his own limitations. Best we can hope for is for some luck to change and for the players to leave everything on the pitch for the rest of the season - whether this is out of pride, ambition, shame or fear I don't reallly care.
Maybe Chery being out is not a bad thing.......just swap Yeni into Chery's role still leaving Pawel and Shopido as wide players..... C'mon U R's....
Cracking ground, all you need to know here... http://footballtripper.com/amex-stadium-brighton-hove-albion/
