please log in to view this image Saturday 11th January 2014 3PM please log in to view this image PORTMAN ROAD please log in to view this image Match Preview QPR travel to Ipswich this weekend, as they look to get their promotion bid back on track. The R`s head into this one having won just once in their last five games (all comps), and it feels like a malaise has crept into recent performances. In terms of away form, Rangers have won just once in their last nine away games in all competitions, with their last win on the road coming at Blackpool on 14th December. The Tractor Boys have been solid of late, going nine games without defeat in all competitions, last losing to Leicester City in November. During that run, Mick McCarthy`s men have won four and drawn five, with each of their last three home games finishing 1-1. David McGoldrick will need to be watched closely, as the former Forest striker has netted five goals in his last seven matches for Ipswich. Their left-back Aaron Cresswell is a player I admire and has already made nine assists this term; no Championship player has assisted more. please log in to view this image Tomorrow, I hope QPR play with more tempo when they have the ball. For the majority of the season, Redknapp`s side have passed it for the sake of passing, taking an extra touch on the ball or going backwards rather than forwards. It is essential to keep the ball but what`s the point if you`re not going to do anything with it? However, when they`ve really attacked teams (e.g. the second half at Blackpool), they suddenly looked worthy of the promotion favourites tag, with players like Matty Phillips springing into life. More of that urgency is needed if Rangers are to push on and become a dominant force in this division. Words by Jack Supple ... c/o Read more: http://www.qpr.vitalfootball.co.uk/matchprere.asp?a=345014#ixzz2q5dBKXI1 Meet The Managers please log in to view this image v please log in to view this image McCarthy v Redknapp Possible Starting Xl's Ipswich Town GERKEN CHAMBERS - SMITH - BERRA - CRESSWELL ANDERSON - SKUSE - TABB - TAYLOR MURPHY - MCCGOLDRICK QPR GREEN SIMPSON - DUNNE - ONUOHA - ASSOU-EKOTTO BARTON - O`NEILL PHILLIPS - JENAS - KRANJCAR AUSTIN Facts & Stats Ipswich have lost just once in their last six home games to QPR in league competition, though this arrived in the most recent fixture (W3 D2). QPR have won their last three league games against Ipswich, scoring six and conceding none. Ipswich have scored three times in the opening five minutes of matches this season; a league-high. Charlie Austin has been directly involved in 50% of QPR`s goals this season, scoring 11 and assisting two. Only Birmingham`s Paul Robinson (9) has been booked more times this season than Joey Barton (8). LAST FIVE IPSWICH: DWDDD QPR: LLDWL HEAD 2 HEAD IPSWICH: 28 QPR: 24 Draw: 18 LAST TIME OUT Championship - 17/08/13 Loftus Road QPR 1 (Hitchcock) Ipswich 0 Team: Green, Simpson, Hill, Dunne, Onuoha, Wright-Phillips, Barton Henry (Jenas), Hoilett (O`Neill), Austin, Zamora (Hitchcock). Attendance: 17,075 Ref Watch please log in to view this image Select Group official appointed for Ipswich trip ... STAFFORDSHIRE-BORN referee Phil Dowd will take charge of Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship clash at Ipswich Town. Saturday’s Portman Road trip will be the top flight officials’ first QPR game this season. His last Rangers outing was in April last year when the R’s drew 1-1 with Wigan Athletic at Loftus Road in the Premier League. Dowd began his refereeing career officiating in the local leagues in 1984, before eventually progressing to both the Staffordshire Senior League and the Midland Football Alliance. The 50-year old was appointed to The Football League list of assistant referees in 1992, before joining the League's full list of officials in 1997. Dowd was finally promoted to England's top-tier in 2001, with this campaign being his thirteenth year in the Premier League. The experienced official refereed the Manchester derby at Wembley Stadium in the 2011 FA Community Shield. Dowd also refereed the 2012 FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Liverpool at the home of English football. Dowd’s last outing was last Saturday when he took charge of West Brom against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup third round. In 18 matches this season Dowd has shown 83 yellow cards and sent off one player. He has awarded one penalty this season. Dowd will be assisted by David Bryan and Constantine Hatzidakis whilst Fred Graham will be on fourth official duties. Read more at http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/090114-ref-watch-phil-dowd-1279848.aspx#S5HT8rwxQW4oV6iJ.99 please log in to view this image
.@OfficialQPR XI: Green; Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto, Carroll, Barton, Benayoun, O’Neil, Kranjcar, Austin. No Ned!?
.@OfficialQPR Subs: Murphy; Traore, Phillips, Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Onuoha, Henry. 5 CMs on the pitch, 2 wingers on the bench!
I'm really really not happy with the lack of pace in that team. It's barmy! Happy to be proven wrong, but I can not see this going well at all.
Afternoon, R's! Our starting XI: : Gerken, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Cresswell, Hyam, Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Anderson, McGoldrick, Taylor. SUBS: Loach, Mings, Edwards, Tabb, Hunt, Lee, Nouble
So much for learning from the second half of the Doncaster match. Time for either or both of Kranjcar and Benayoun to step up to the plate.
Harry will get the players to try and keep a clean sheet until 70/75 minutes then bring on Phillips and Wright-Phillips to provide a fillip.
Terrible looking team!! No Ned. No Phillips. No pace! Harry will probably change it after it's too late.
Looks like a straight 4-4-2 to me, at least to start off with, we've been playing 4-3-3 at home recently, so I'm thinking that Anderson might be expected to add support to the two strikers when he can.
Yep! We will have zero width and zero pace. Dunne and Hill together will mean that the whole side sinks too deep as the back four can't afford to play a high line. I'm really starting to wonder about Harry's judgement.
