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SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: St Andrew's Date: Saturday 8 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Venue: St Andrew's Date: Saturday 8 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
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Team News
Birmingham left-back Mitch Hancox will miss Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash with QPR at St Andrew's having been ruled out for at least six weeks with an ankle injury.
Hancox is facing a battle to play again this season following the latest in a string of injury problems which have hampered his involvement of late.
Midfielder Brian Howard is also sidelined due to an ankle complaint of his own, while Lee Novak (hamstring) and Albert Rusnak (groin) will be assessed.
Lee Clark will check on his international contingent when they report back for training on Friday.
QPR, meanwhile, will hand fitness checks to Niko Kranjcar, Gary O'Neil, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Armand Traore ahead of the trip.
Kranjcar (hamstring), fellow midfielder O'Neil (hip) and left-back Assou-Ekotto (thigh) all missed last weekend's 1-1 draw against Leeds while winger Traore was struggling with a back injury towards the end of the match.
Harry Redknapp can welcome back midfielder Joey Barton from a two-game ban.
Right-back Danny Simpson is still out with a back injury, although he is not far away, while top scorer Charlie Austin (shoulder) hopes to be back some time in April.
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Birmingham Possible Starting Xl...
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QPR Possible Starting Xl...
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Meet The Managers
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(Mellisa) Clark v (Louise) Redknapp
Ref Watch: GRAHAM SCOTT
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Official appointed for St. Andrews clash with Birmingham City ...
OXFORDSHIRE official Graham Scott has been appointed by the Football League for Saturdayâs Sky Bet Championship match against Birmingham City at St. Andrews.
It will be Scottâs second outing for a QPR fixture this season after he took charge of the Râs 2-1 win against Doncaster Rovers on New Years Day at Loftus Road.
Scott started his career in the North Berks League before making his ways through the leagues and eventually receiving his call-up to the Football League in 2008.
Now in his sixth season on the League list, Scott has overseen 23 matches this season in all competitions. He has issued 73 yellow cards and 10 red cards, he has also awarded six penalties.
Assisting Scott will be Anthony Tankard and Timothy Wood. Fourth official duties will be looked after by Stuart Attwell.
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Birmingham 15/8 - Draw 21/10 - QPR 7/5
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
⢠QPR won the earlier meeting this season 1-0 at Loftus Road in September.
⢠QPR have won the past two meetings, with Birmingham's most recent win 1-0 at St Andrew's in October 2008.
⢠Birmingham are unbeaten in the past eight meetings at St Andrew's, winning six. QPR's most recent (and only league) win there was 2-0 in the old Division One in April 1984.
Birmingham
⢠Birmingham have lost three of their past four games, winning one.
⢠Birmingham have kept only one clean sheet in their past 11 league games.
⢠Birmingham have not won any of their past 11 league games at home, losing five. Their last home win in the Championship was 4-0 against Millwall at the start of October.
QPR
⢠QPR have not won any of their past five games, losing three. Their most recent win was 2-1 against Bolton at home on 28 January.
⢠QPR have conceded only 26 league goals so far this season - the joint-fewest in the Championship with Burnley.
⢠QPR have won only one of their past six away games in all competitions. Their only win on the road since mid-December was 3-1 at Ipswich in the Championship on 11 January.
Come On You R's
QPR travel to St. Andrew`s this weekend where they will face Lee Clark`s Birmingham City, with the R`s in dire need of a win before their promotion bid falls completely off the rails. The major talking point from a QPR perspective this week was the release of the club`s financial record from last season and the staggering losses Tony Fernandes and co have suffered following relegation from the Premier League. In short, the club cannot continue to operate in such a manner; spending beyond their means and the sooner the owners realise this and at least attempt to forge a sustainable business model, the better.
In terms of on-pitch matters, Rangers could really do with a win, not only to keep pace with Derby and Burnley, but to maintain their position in the play-offs. To coin Redknapp`s favourite saying of late "we`ve been desperately unlucky with injuries" and in fairness, it has severely disrupted our promotion push. Yes, we have struggled to play attacking and fast-paced football all season but the team were still able to grind out wins and clean sheets. Four key injuries later and QPR can`t manage either.
It`s rather telling to know that the three clubs to use the fewest amount of players this season occupy the top three places in the Championship. Either they`ve been extremely lucky with injuries or the fact that they all have well-balanced and youthful squads is the determining factor here.
Nevertheless, Rangers must look at this Birmingham game with hungry eyes and go for the jugular. Lee Clark`s side have gone 11 league games without a win at St. Andrews and have lost to the likes of Yeovil and Charlton in that run. Surely, QPR can get a result here! That`s not to be disrespectful to Birmingham but with their lack of confidence at home, the R`s must believe they can capitalise on this and attack from the off with tempo and directness.
by Jack Supple c/o http://www.qpr.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchprere.asp?a=351985#ixzz2vK75YgfZ
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