please log in to view this image V please log in to view this image SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP LOFTUS ROAD STADIUM 5TH OCTOBER 2013 - KICK OFF 15:00 please log in to view this image please log in to view this image QPR 2/5 DRAW 7/2 BARNSLEY 5/1 Match Preview QPR welcome Barnsley to Loftus Road tomorrow afternoon, with the promotion favourites searching for their fifth home victory and eighth consecutive clean sheet of the season. Should the R`s win they stand a good chance of heading into the international break top of the Championship - a fine achievement, considering they will have a game in hand. Indeed, the R`s could make history tomorrow should they not concede but like many I`d much rather they won at the expense of keeping a clean sheet. History suggests that Barnsley at home will be a favourable fixture for QPR, with the West London side currently unbeaten in 21 league games at Loftus Road (W18 D3). However, despite their start this term the Tykes under Flitcroft are a decent side, one that will cause problems going forward with the likes of O`Grady and Scotland up top and McCourt and Cywka out wide. They are somewhat loose at the back though, conceding 25 goals this season (23 more than QPR), and could find life very difficult should Rangers grab an early goal. Last Saturday, the team finally clicked into gear. We saw a side that used the football extremely well, which in fairness is unsurprising given the wealth of talented options in midfield. Niko Kranjcar was particularly outstanding despite not being match fit and he is a very welcome addition to the team. I would expect him to start tomorrow alongside an unchanged midfield of Faurlin, Barton, O`Neill and Carroll. I think Rangers need to get a goal early doors, otherwise Barnsley`s confidence will no doubt grow as the match progresses. QPR Team News: Nedum Onuoha and Bobby Zamora are long-term absentees. Matt Phillips is a doubt and Andrew Johnson is still several weeks away from full fitness. Possible line up: GREEN SIMPSON - DUNNE - HILL - ASSOU-EKOTTO O`NEILL - CARROLL - BARTON - FAURLIN - KRANJCAR AUSTIN Player to watch: Rob Green please log in to view this image It's clear to see that Rob Green has been excellent this season. He`s had his doubters (myself included), but since he has been selected as the number one keeper, he has performed to a very high standard. This season, Green has already kept seven clean sheets and has a save percentage of 92% - the most in the division for keepers to have played at least 99 minutes. It tells us that when called upon, Green has delivered the goods, keeping us in matches that we probably didn`t deserve to still be in. If he can keep up this level of consistency, he will be a front-runner for player of the season. Barnsley Team News: Barnsley have no new injury concerns. Possible line up: BUTLAND WISEMAN - RAMAGE - CRAINIE - KENNEDY MCCOURT - FOX - MELLIS - PERKINS SCOTLAND - O`GRADY Stat Attack QPR are currently 21 matches unbeaten at home to Barnsley (league competition); drawing just three of those games. After failing to score in his first five league games for QPR, Charlie Austin has scored three in his last four. The R`s have gone 685 minutes without conceding a league goal. Barnsley have conceded 11 goals in the final 30 minutes of matches this season; a league-high. LAST FIVE QPR: WWDWW Barnsley : LLLLD HEAD 2 HEAD QPR: 24 Barnsley:14 Draw: 10 LAST TIME OUT Championship - 12/04/11 Oakwell Barnsley 0 QPR 1 (Taarabt) Team: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Gorkss, Connolly, Derry, Taarabt (Ephraim), Faurlin, Routledge, Smith, Helguson. Attendance: 11,381 Ref Watch: Referee: Dave Phillips Assistants: Adam Crysell & Grant Taylor Fourth Official: Rob Whitton Dave Phillips is the match official for tomorrow`s game against the Tykes. Last season, Phillips issued 111 yellow cards and 8 red cards in 32 games. Words by Jack Supple c/o Read more: http://www.qpr.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchprere.asp?a=334580#ixzz2gmJ0IXJL
Previous Encounters: http://qprreport.proboards.com/thread/37324/previous-encounters-barnsley?page=1&scrollTo=336574
A fleeting glance at Barnsley's badge makes it look like a toff and a miner are off to play golf. Nice Strangelove reference Bushman.
Think this is far from a forgone conclusion. Only 1-nil last time out and we romped the league.... Still gonna say 2-nil and Rob Green gets in our record books....NEVER EVER thought i'd say that !!
We should win, let's hope we're professional and don't take it for granted. Might have a look at Scotland to score first goal
They have had a hell of an away fixture list...I wouldn't want to have played all those teams away (Leicester, Forest, Blackburn, Blackpool)...Do not take them for granted, they could be in an artificially low position
QPR FC ‏@OfficialQPR @OfficialQPR XI: Green; Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto, Carroll, Barton, Faurlin, O’Neil, Kranjcar, Austin. #QPRvBAR Subs: Murphy; Traore, Jenas, Chevanton, Henry, Hoilett, Ehmer. #QPRvBAR please log in to view this image QPR FC ‏@OfficialQPR @BFC_Official XI: Butland; Ramage, Kennedy, Cranie, O’Grady, Perkins, Wiseman, Mellis, Fox, McCourt, Scotland. #QPRvBAR Subs: Hassell, O’Brien, Dawson, Cywka, Pedersen, Etuhu, Lazarus. #QPRvBAR
Well, I'm currently following our game on the Bet365 live "wave" - at least you see immediate goal updates there. At the same I'm keeping an eye on Donny v Leicester, which is the Bet365 live stream Championship game today, also Cardiff v Newcastle on TV plus Liverpool v Palace (now 2-0) on London 94.9 radio (can also switch to this game on TV, or Hull v Villa). My word, Luis Suarez is still able to score goals while falling down - perhaps he could teach this technique to our own SWP!
