It's nearly three decades since two top flight sides got this far without a win - so what can history tell QPR and Reading? By Adam Shergold PUBLISHED: 12:58 GMT, 12 November 2012 | UPDATED: 13:18 GMT, 12 November 2012 Comments (1) Share .. Itâs something that immediately leaps out from the Premier League table â weâre in mid-November and there are two sides who have yet to record their first victory. Queens Park Rangers (20th) and Reading (18th) both have a big fat zero in the wins column after 11 and 10 matches respectively and a glance back through the record books shows it is 28 years since we had a similar situation for two sides in the top flight. In 1983-1984, both Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers made an equally slow start to the season. So what can history tell us? Leicester were newly-returned to the First Division and endured a baptism of fire, losing their opening six matches. The Filbert Street faithful found it particularly tough to tolerate, with the first three home games seeing a 4-0 defeat to Notts County and 3-0 losses to Luton Town and Tottenham Hotspur. It wasnât until October 29th â game 11 â that the Foxes recorded their first win, against Everton, off the back of eight defeats and two draws. Manager Gordon Milne, who had led them to promotion, was given time to put things right and, powered by the 22 goals of Gary Lineker, they eventually finished a very credible 15th. So even though weâre now nearly into the winter months, there is a historical precedent to offer a slither of comfort to embattled QPR boss Mark Hughes, whose side do have more points than Leicester did at the same stage. However, the other team to make a sluggish start that season, Wolves, might make Hughes â and Brian McDermott for that matter â shiver. They were also newly-promoted, finishing second in the second division, a place above Leicester, but found the going even tougher. They failed to register a win until November 26 and lost 10 of their opening 14 matches. There were some real thrashing for the Molineux club too â a 5-0 away at Nottingham Forest and back-to-back 4-0s away to Luton Town and at home to QPR. Unsurprisingly, they finished the season rock bottom, 21 points adrift of safety. The board at Wolves stuck with manager Graham Hawkins until the bitter end, dismissing him finally in April after a miserable run of one win in 14 games. If their poor run continues, something tells me Hughes and McDermott wonât be so fortunate. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...mber-win--hope-Reading-QPR.html#ixzz2C4FRWipg Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Kiwi, grim reading. However, an important difference may be the quality of the squads. QPR have been the 'nearly' team in many of the games we've played and surely that 'nearly' can't last all season and must improve. Also, I suspect there will be money in Jan especially if Hughes (or successor) as stabilised the ship. One decent CB and a proven goal scorer who can stay fit would make a huge difference.
The problem in my opinion is that apart from Hughes wallowing in his own technical ability, he lacks foresight when entering the transfer market. This point clarifies itself with the 2 he aquired from Fulham. Andy Johnson,who was injury prone when he arrived at the Cottage,the clubs worst goalscoring record since pre war. Hughes aquires on a free (but giveng him a 2/3 year contract at 35k per wk) Zamora, performed indiferently,and it was reported he had a disruptive influence. Hughes buys 4mil, 3 yr contract reputed to be 40k per week. I am sure the QPR fans can add to this failure list.
so what can history tell QPR and Reading? Reading don't have any history and their past is nothing like ours.
if we are haning around the drop zone come christmas which decent cb and proven goalscorer would touch us
Even if results begin to improve, we're still likely to be hanging around the drop zone come Xmas mate, so you're probably right.
It's the gap from 18th position that is probably more relevant to a team's survival chances rather than how long they wait to get a win.At this point last year Wigan were 5 points adrift and they survived,although Blackburn and Bolton,one and three points better off respectively didn't.So Saturday's match becomes all the more crucial in terms of not falling out of touch with the pack.
Agree with that! How do you see the season panning out for Norwich and Swansea; do you think ye'll do as well as last year, and your view on your managers?
It's a bit early to say as yet.Before Arsenal I would have said that we were likely to go down but eight points from four games has shored things up quite nicely.I wasn't one of those who had Chris Hughton as first choice (That was Ollie) but he seems like a nice guy who has a bit of tactical nous.If we were to go down I think he should stay. Swansea are difficult too.After their great start I had a feeling that they might do a Wolves and go into freefall but that hasn't happened yet.My own view on both QPR and Southampton was that they suffered from getting tough fixtures early on.I really can't help thinking that Hughes is the problem with you.Saturday is a massive game for sure.
