ASTON VILLA v QPR BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE Venue: Villa Park Date: Wednesday, 1 February Kick-off: 1945 GMT TEAM NEWS Aston Villa pair Marc Albrighton and James Collins have failed to recover from the injuries that caused them to miss the FA Cup defeat by Arsenal. Winger Charles N'Zogbia is available after overcoming a heel problem. QPR newcomer Djibril Cisse could make his debut if he receives international clearance, but Bobby Zamora was not signed in time to play. Taye Taiwo and Nedum Onuoha are hoping for debuts, while Akos Buzsaky (ankle) and Danny Gabbidon (hip) are doubtful. MATCH PREVIEW Aston Villa's dire recent home form has been as unfathomable as the absence of an apostrophe in Queens Park Rangers. It is nearly three months since Villa last won in front of their own fans, and a run of four successive defeats was only checked by a draw with Everton in their most recent home fixture. Having been outgunned by Arsenal's second-half fightback in the FA Cup on Sunday, all that remains for Villa this season is to try and better last year's ninth-placed finish. QPR's own cup exit, to Chelsea, also narrows their focus to the league, and more precisely the avoidance of an immediate return to the Championship. To that end, new manager Mark Hughes has augmented his squad with athletic, powerful players in the transfer window. Hughes, who denies being overlooked for the Villa job last summer, has never won as a manager at Villa Park. However, his opposite number Alex McLeish is faring little better; with the home support restless, McLeish will need to beat the Hoops- and jump through a few more - to appease them. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Aston Villa have won the last four league meetings at Villa Park. QPR's last win at Villa in the league came in March 1992. Rangers won their last match at Villa Park - a 1-0 victory in the League Cup third round in September 2008. Damion Stewart scored the only goal. Aston Villa Villa are winless in their last five home league matches, having lost four of them. It is their longest run at home without victory since a six-match streak between January to April 2009. They are attempting to win back-to-back league matches for the first time this season. Villa and Wolves have recovered an unequalled 10 points from losing positions this season. Alex McLeish's side are the only team not to have scored from a corner routine in the Premier League this season, according to Opta. Darren Bent is one shy of his 100th Premier League goal. If fit, James Collins could make his 200th English league appearance, while Stephen Warnock is set to play in his 200th Premier League game. QPR QPR are looking to win successive Premier League matches for the first time since December 1995. As a manager, Mark Hughes has never won a Premier League game at Villa Park (D4, L3). Rangers have conceded in each of their last 13 league matches. If fit, Akos Buzsaky could make his 200th English league appearance. "Courtesy" of the BBC LFW Travel Guides â Villa Park, Birmingham http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_news.php?storyid=15836&title=lfw_travel_guides_%E2%80%93_villa_park,_birmingham History - Memories of Stewart and 68 as QPR head to Villa Park http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_news.php?storyid=15837&title=memories_of_stewart_and_68_as_qpr_head_to_villa_park_%E2%80%93_history Opposition focus - A waste of a club, Villa continue to drift http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_news.php?storyid=15871&title=a_waste_of_a_club,_villa_continue_to_drift_%E2%80%93_opposition_focus Full match preview - New look QPR head for out of form Villa http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/fb_news.php?storyid=15872&title=new_look_qpr_head_for_out_of_form_villa_%E2%80%93_full_match_preview From LoftForWords by Clive Whittigham. The 25-man squads are submitted tomorrow afternoon according to David McIntyre. Looks a happy bunch, foto from Djibril Cisse (click to enlarge) Mark Hughes had never lost at St James' Park, he lost. Mark Hughes have never won at Villa Park, we'll win?? Come on you R's!
Taarabt was on bench last night in ACoN, so don't think he'll be in starting XI, if with the team at all. Traore wasn't even named in the team in Senegals last ACoN game on sunday, so there's more hope in seeing him on field
Couple of these tonight please: [video=youtube;o0u86z2gR4Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0u86z2gR4Q[/video] Check out the defender jumping OUT of the way for the ball [video=youtube;y9L8VyDnrg4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9L8VyDnrg4[/video]
Any thoughts on how we'll line up tonight? Could be a couple of debutants My guess would be something like this: ---------------Kenny---------------- Young---Ferdinand---Onouha---Taiwo Mackie----Derry------Barton----Smith ----------------SWP---------------- ----------------Cisse---------------- Assuming both Buzsaku and Helguson are indeed injured and that it's not just a smokescreen from Sparky.
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2596905,00.html? Djibril Cisse is eligible to play in QPR's Barclays Premier League fixture at Aston Villa tonight (Wednesday). Rangers received notification of his international clearance this evening, meaning the French international striker is now available for R's boss Mark Hughes to select at Villa Park. Strange, thought that was cleared up yesterday?
Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock, Petrov, Clark, Ireland, Keane, N'Zogbia, Bent. Subs: Guzan, Bannan, Weimann, Baker, Lichaj, Heskey, Gardner. QPR: Kenny, Derry, Mackie, Barton, Young, Hulse, Cisse, Wright-Phillips, Taiwo, Ferdinand, Onuoha. Subs: Cerny, Hill, Hall, Smith, Ephraim, Macheda, Balanta.
ok, so Cisse will start, that's great news. Otherwise just the starting XI i expected on the other thread... great to see Cisse, Taiwo + Onuoha have their debute game tonight
