please log in to view this image QUEENS PARK RANGERS face an in-form Burton Albion side this weekend at the Pirelli Stadium. The R’s know a victory could potentially move us three places up the table into 14th depending on other results and perhaps more importantly open up a nice cushion between us and the teams in the relegation zone. Burton are one of those sides in the bottom three but have been in very good form over the last four weeks picking up ten points from a possible 15. Crucially they have taken points against teams around them with their victories coming against Reading, Bolton and Sheffield Wednesday. However, Rangers will take heart in the fact that these triumphs were all away from home with Nigel Clough’s side struggling at the Pirelli Stadium – picking up just two League wins all campaign. In their second season at this level Burton have shown a high level of desire on the field and great astuteness off it in terms of transfers and the infrastructure at the club – this is all despite having a much lower budget than most of the sides in this division. Nigel Clough deserves a lot of credit for what he’s done since joining the club in December 2015 when taking over from former R’s manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. If they could manage to stay in the division once again then this season will go down as undisputed success. Despite their recent turn in results, Burton will know that they’ve still got a long way to go and a lot to improve on for the second period of the season. No team has picked up less points than them at home and they have only scored 20 goals this term with only Birmingham scoring fewer. The reverse fixture earlier at Loftus Road this season won’t live long in the memory with both teams cancelling each other out in a dull 0-0 draw. Ian Holloway would be delighted if Rangers can get another clean sheet as the R’s have only managed one away from home this campaign but will also see this as an opportunity for a rare three points on the road. Rangers followed the excellent comeback victory against Cardiff on New Year's Day with a disappointing third round FA Cup defeat to MK Dons last Saturday. But the League is the undoubted priority this year and a positive result could lay the foundations for a strong second half of the season. When and where? Saturday 13th January 2018 - kick-off 3pm - Pirelli Stadium Last Time Out QPR 0-0 Burton Albion - Saturday, 23rd September 2017 Jamie Mackie and Luke Freeman both went close for QPR as we were held to a 0-0 draw by Burton Albion at Loftus Road. The R’s dominated possession but could only muster four shots on target. Freeman came closest to breaking the deadlock in the second half with a shot just wide of the left-hand post, while Mackie fired over from 12 yards out. Sean Scannell struck a post for Burton, who extended their unbeaten run to three matches. Stats Burton Albion have failed to win in their last nine home matches QPR have only scored more than one goal away from home in two fixtures this season (Middlesbrough, Birmingham) QPR have never won at the Pirelli Stadium Manager Viewpoints Ian Holloway: “I know what Burton do and how good they are at it. They are a lively opponent with a lot of experience in their team. We know we are going to have to be solid when we play them, like we were at Birmingham and like we were at Ipswich. I want them to come at us but I don’t expect them to do that. I think they will look to catch us on the counterattack so we will have to deal with that.” Nigel Clough: “Ian Holloway’s teams are honest, they run and work hard and it will be a good battle between two teams desperate for points. He’s picking up the pieces after a few seasons of difficulty down there but he’s keeping their heads above water and doing a very good job.” Team News QPR: Ian Holloway will have to make do without the services of Paul Smyth (thigh) and Jordan Cousins (hamstring) this weekend. However Alex Baptiste and Massimo Luongo will both return to the squad whilst Grant Hall’s fitness levels will be assessed. Burton Albion: Will Miller (dead leg) and Tom Flanagan (minor knock) are the two injury concerns for Nigel Clough’s side. However Jake Buxton and John Brayford should be passed fit for the game at the Pirelli stadium. Referee Stephen Martin: QPR have drawn the two other games that he has refereed this season (Brentford, Sunderland) please log in to view this image
Cheers Dave great job Back in the U.K. so will miss the match on the QPR site for people abroad I think a tight match but we will nick it
I am going too...I cannot remember the last time I saw us win away. That sort of guarantees it..... a 3 nil loss at least and it is a long journey back
Scary stat... 2 wins and 2 draws for them out of the 4 games played between the two sides... and we really need the 3 pts to put some daylight between us and the closing pack