please log in to view this image SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Venue: Loftus Road Date: Sunday 16th February Kick-off: 15:30 BST please log in to view this image Team News QPR boss Harry Redknapp could make changes to his starting line-up for the clash with Reading (kick-off 3.30pm) after Monday's defeat at promotion rivals Derby. Andrew Johnson and Kevin Doyle led the line at Pride Park but the former was taken off at half-time and Redknapp may decide to hand a first start to Modibo Maiga. Redknapp has a long list of absentees with Matty Phillips (ankle), Danny Simpson (back), Charlie Austin (shoulder), Yossi Benayoun (groin) and Alejandro Faurlin (cruciate) all on the sidelines. Junior Hoilett and Jermaine Jenas are two options for Redknapp as he looks to get his third-placed side's automatic promotion bid back on track. Reading defender Alex Pearce is available for the trip to QPR after his appeal against last weekend's red card was successful. Pearce was sent off early on in Reading's 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and was given an automatic one-match ban, which was subsequently overturned by the Football Association. Midfielder Danny Guthrie returned after a month on the sidelines with a calf problem as a second-half substitute in that game and is in contention to start at Loftus Road. Wayne Bridge and Sean Morrison (both knee) are expected to return before the end of February but Mikele Leigertwood (ankle), Jason Roberts (hip) and Jem Karacan (cruciate) are still some way off. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head These sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Madejski Stadium in November. The last three meetings have been drawn. The last win in any competition was Reading's 3-2 victory at Loftus Road in the League Cup in September 2012. Reading have won only won one of the last eight league meetings at Loftus Road. Their only league win there since 1997 was 2-1 in the Championship in November 2005. QPR QPR's 1-0 defeat at Derby on Monday was their first defeat in seven games in the Championship. QPR have conceded only 21 league goals so far this season - the fewest in the division. QPR have the joint-best home record in the Championship with Leicester. Their only home defeat so far was 1-0 against the Foxes on 21 December. Reading Reading have won four of their last six games, losing two. Reading have scored in only three of their last five games, but have scored 15 goals in those games. Reading have won two of their last three away games, against Watford and Millwall. please log in to view this image QPR Possible Starting Xl............... GREEN HUGHES - DUNNE - HILL - ASSOU-EKOTTO HOILETT - BARTON - HENRY - TRAORE KRANJCAR DOYLE please log in to view this image Reading Possible Starting Xl......... McCARTHY GUNTER - GORKSS - PEARCE - OBITA McCLEARY - WILLIAMS - AKPAN - McANUFF POGREBNYAK - Le FONDRE Meet The Managers please log in to view this image - v - please log in to view this image Redknapp v Adkins Ref Watch - David Coote please log in to view this image Official appointed for his first ever QPR fixture ... REFEREE David Coote will take charge of his first ever QPR fixture on Sunday when Rangers go head-to-head with Reading live on Sky Sports. Coote has been appointed by the Football League for the 3:30pm clash at Loftus Road this weekend. His education as an official started as a 12-year-old when he was forced to run the line for his fatherâs local side. At 16, he was refereeing adults, and he progressed at pace through the Notts Alliance, the Northern Counties East League, Evo-Stik League and Blue Square North. In 2006, he was promoted on to the League list as an assistant. In 2009 he ran the line at Wembley Stadium for the FA Vase Final between Whitley Bay and Glossop North End. He returned to the national stadium twice the following year, firstly as the fifth official for the FA Cup semi-final between Tottenham and Portsmouth and then as an assistant referee for the FA Trophy Final between Barrow and Stevenage. Promoted to the refereesâ list in the same year, Coote is now in his fourth season as a Football League referee. This season to date he has taken charge of 27 fixtures, issuing 80 yellow cards, two reds and awarding six penalties. Assisting him will be Ian Cooper and Thomas Ramsey, whilst David Phillips will be on duty with the numbers board. please log in to view this image QPR Evens - DRAW 12/5 - READING 11/4 please log in to view this image Best wishes to Tony Mills on your special day. please log in to view this image
Thank you Nines, just a short note to our ref and linesmen ............. To the REF Now that we know all about you ( read Nines's description ), we can only hope you are a fair, honourable and a straight forward sought of person who will, when and if needed, take pity on us and award us as many penalties as it takes to win this game. Can you instruct your linesmen look the other way when Joey is attempting to make a tackle and give goal line directions to SWP, should he make a start. ( you may need to chalk the ground to the net ) If Zamora or AJ are sighted anywhere near the pitch, please ensure all medi-cabs and medical staff are on full alert. If you notice Harry giving a post game interview to the media after only twenty minutes of game time, it will probably be to deny any knowledge of Adel leaving Fulham and moving to Milan. He will then continue to spread his love for Adel till games' end. If you happen to notice Uncle Tonz parachuting out of his Air Asia jumbo as he flys over Loftus Road, a short '5 minute time-out' nod to both captains should do the trick. We must express much love and care to the 'one who flys' for we will need him to max his credit card again at seasons end. If the QPR faithful in the terraces start directing much colourful banter towards you, it can only be that you have decided not to play fair, as set out in this letter of request. Yours sincerely, Aussie
Just getting ready before I head off to Drogheda with Goose for the match. Big turnout expected from several boards and Internet forums. I'm hoping to see you there swords!!!!
Have a great day lads. Even though it is a long way away for me I was hoping to make it but couldn't swing it.
When my first born son arrived we lost that game but won the league. Today my second son has arrived so expect to lose but promotion is a shoe in!!
Congratulations rrrrrs. Have a good day all the Irish R's. Enjoy the game everyone. I'm off to bed now I hate working nights.
Congrats from a not-so sunny Spain rrrrrrs. Hope all family are doing well and that Tony Mills has a wonderful day!
Congrats rrrrrs from that Reading fan daib0! Hope it's a great game, can't see too many goals to be honest, but the Royals are so umnpredictable anything could happen. I've done an interview from the Reading perspective on "Loft for Words", if you'd like to browse it's here in the second half of this article: http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/footba...reading-return-attempt-â-opposition-profile And then the main RR Match Presentation and thread is here, I've always insisted on full respect for our opponents on the site, so you might find a bit of useful info here too: http://royalsrendezvous.co.uk/topic/10035526/1 Many of your regulars know I have to keep an level head helping organize the Premier League Positions Game, so even though I'm interested in a good Reading performance no whinging or gloating from me afterwards, whichever way it goes ...
Congrats rrrs. This game could go either way imo, although a draw wouldn't be a massive surprise. I just hope that Harry picks a more balanced, attacking line-up! In fact the team nines put up would suit me. although Kranjcar has been very disappointing. Come on Rangers!!
Congratulations rrrrrs on the baby....but perhaps we might win, and we do not win the league...we come second...that would suit. Best wishes to Tony too...I hope we score because I suspect there may be another treat for him....I hope so... today is the day for the fight and spirit to start coming to the front and taking over come on u RRRS
Congrats rrrrrs on your latest addition to the family - really hope you can celebrate later with a win and that everyone has a great day out at Loftus Road, especially Tony Mills.
