please log in to view this image QPR host Millwall at Loftus Road this evening in their first all London league encounter this season. Fresh from Saturday’s excellent 2-1 win against Ipswich Town, R’s boss Ian Holloway will be aiming for back-to-back Championship victories for the first time this campaign. Holloway has won his last three home matches on the spin in 2017/18 and will be aiming for a fourth W12 win on the bounce against the 19th placed Lions. It would be the first time QPR have achieved the feat in a season since 2011 should Rangers be successful. Following Millwall’s promotion via the League One play-offs last season tonight’s match will be the first meeting between the two sides since 2014 when a late Scott Malone volley secured a point for the visitors. Lions boss Neil Harris, in his first senior managerial appointment, took over the hot seat at the Den from Holloway in March 2015. After narrowly failing to keep them in the Championship that season he guided them to promotion via the play-offs in May this year. Since returning to the second tier the Lions have found life tough going after six matches. They lost or drew their opening four league matches before securing an impressive 4-0 win against Norwich at the end of August. However, they lost 1-0 at Wolves at the weekend leaving them 19th in the table going into this evenings encounter. Millwall haven’t won at Loftus Road in 28-years. please log in to view this image When and where? Tuesday, 12th September 2017 - kick-off 7:45pm Last Time Out QPR 1-1 Millwall - Saturday, 26th April 2014 QPR were on their way to eventually winning promotion to the Premier League via the Play-Offs as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road. Charlie Austin looked to have handed the R’s the lead from the penalty spot in the 78th minute before Scott Malone’s stoppage time volley sealed a late draw for Millwall. Stats QPR are looking for fourth consecutive home league win at start of season for first time since the 2010/11 campaign. Ian Holloway is looking for fifth consecutive QPR home league win. His record for the R's is 8 on bounce set between November 2003 and February 2004. Since the start of last season, Massimo Luongo has made more tackles (146) than any other player in the Championship. please log in to view this image Manager Viewpoint’s Ian Holloway: “I’m looking forward to another challenge. Obviously it’s against a team I used to manage. Does that change anything? No, not for me. I just want to beat whoever is in front of us, and we have to earn that right. The lads are in a good place and we have to be ready to take on a very tough opponent.” Neil Harris: “It adds spice to it because it is a London derby. It is a great footballing arena, Loftus Road. As a player and a fan it was always a great atmosphere to play in with it’s tight pitch. That always seems to suit Millwall teams. What you know about Ollie and QPR is that they are going to be very adaptable. It makes it very difficult to set-up a game plan against them because Ollie likes to rotate and go off the cuff quite a lot.” Team News QPR: James Perch (dislocated kneecap) is a long term absentee whilst Grant Hall (knee) is also still sidelined. Joel Lynch (hamstring) and Jordan Cousins (hamstring) continue their rehabilitation towards full fitness. please log in to view this image Millwall: Millwall will be without Aiden O’Brien for the trip to Loftus Road following his red card in their 1-0 defeat against Wolves at the weekend. The Lions are also likely to be without Tom Elliot for the trip to W12 after the striker injured himself in the build-up to Saturday’s match. Referee Roger East: The Premier League official is the man in the middle at Loftus Road tonight. He’s overseen three fixtures this campaign issuing nine yellow cards. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Would be very QPR to lose all the momentum in a very winnable game like this. Millwall aren't pretty to watch and I'd bring your neck brace if you're in the lower tier. Big game for Onuoha and Baptiste. We really should be good enough going forwards to get a couple but, as I said, that would be most un-QPR.
Caulker for Robinson and/or Smith for Washington to give us more aerial power at the back / Smith at the dead ball situations? Maybe that would be allowing them to dictate the game too much, but I do fancy Sylla to come off the bench and nick one for us near the end.
Washington was very good on Saturday and think he,ll score tonight. Lost our way up front when he went off.
I have heard rumours that many people are not going tonight as they are 'scared'. Can that possibly be true? Am going for 11,552.
Here's a link to Clive's preview from LFW, always worth a read especially when the word optimism is mentioned..... https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/footb...the-demon-optimism-as-millwall-visit--preview
I wouldn't say scared is correct but there's bound to be hassle of some sort. Getting to and from LR midweek is bad enough if you're coming from afar without having to take specific routes which I think the police are advising. 99% of Millwall is bravado and embarrassing old men who should know better but I can understand people, especially with kids, leaving it tonight on the off chance.
Surely Smith will start tonight to give us additional height when defending set pieces? Given the inevitable physicality Mackie should also be in the XI. Wszolek should be the one to give way. Wing backs will not be so effective against a long ball game and a team sitting deep so at the back a flat four with Scowen providing cover. Smithies Bidwell Onuoha Robinson Baptiste Scowen Luongo Freeman Mackie Smith Washington
Smithies Furlong (best in the air) Baptiste Onouha Bidwell Freeman, Scowen, Luongo, Mackie Smith Washington 2 changes Furlong/Smith for Robinson/Pawel. subs....Lumley, Robinson, Lua Lua, Wheeler, Bright, Sylla (where was he on sat?). Pawel 4 wingers on the bench! Any tube issues,does anyone know, as H/City Line was down on sat?
I'm.mot going as I'm away on hols but I'll freely admit I was not overly sorry when I saw I was missing this one. Not scared but it's just a thoroughly unpleasant atmosphere way above normal banter even with clubs we don't like such as Chelsea or Norwich. Sorry to have missed last Saturday though!
Smith is a last resort imo......all the good football goes out the window. Since he has been dropped the whole team is playing better because we retain the ball. I dont mind him but he should be last 20 mins player if things need to change.
Hope I'm wrong but, like Watford, I'm sensing a banana skin and the inevitable "bad day at the office" cliche.
