please log in to view this image SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP Venue: King Power Stadium - Date: Saturday 19 April - Kick-off: 12:15 BST Coverage: Watch highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website please log in to view this image Match Preview RANGERS take on Leicester City on Saturday, aiming to build on last weekend’s encouraging display against Nottingham Forest. Harry Redknapp’s men ran out 5-2 victors over the Reds in front of the Sky Sports cameras, and the Hoops will again be hoping to put on a show for the live lunchtime televised kick-off at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes, of course, head into the game as runaway leaders in the division and should results go their way today (Friday), they could even be crowned Champions as early as this weekend. The R’s, meanwhile, will be keen to show what they’re made of, with the play-offs potentially looming large. Redknapp has been handed a boost with the news that Kevin Doyle has resumed full training this week following a knee injury. Skipper Clint Hill and Aaron Hughes could also return to the squad following recent knocks, whilst Joey Barton is also nearing a return following a thigh complaint. Andrew Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips are also available in the wake of their midweek run-out for the EDS squad. The clash against the Foxes will come too soon for Jermaine Jenas, however, who is likely to be ruled out for both the Leicester and Watford fixtures with a hamstring injury. Matty James remains a major doubt for the Foxes after missing Monday's 1-1 draw at Reading with a knee injury. Scans have shown the problem is not as bad as initially feared and he will continue to be assessed, although - with promotion already sealed - Pearson will not take any risks with the midfielder. So, after a season spent lamenting the lack of strike power, Charlie Austen excluded, we now are faced with a sudden influx of fit again strikers to choose from. Austen is returning to match fitness, Zamora produced his best display last week in recent times against Nottingham Forest, now we hear that Kevin Doyle is back in full training and Andy Johnson scored a brace against Millwall in an under 21 fixture. The other good news looks like Joey Barton is going to be back, though the worry is he is only three yellow cards away from a ban. What can we expect? On Saturday we play Leicester City already promoted and slowly gathering the required points to be named Champions, but have recently slipped up dropping points to Reading and losing to Brighton at home. It would be foolish to expect Rangers to get anything, despite a victory against out of form Forest, but there is the hope that last weeks opening of the floodgates in the 5-2 win with Carroll, Simpson Onuha, Morrison and Zamora putting in very good performances, promises something better then we have come to expect. TEAM NEWS Promoted Leicester City could be without midfielder Matty James, who has a knee problem. Striker Jamie Vardy will hope to keep his place after recently returning from a groin injury. QPR, whose play-off place is almost secure, welcome back midfielder Joey Barton after thigh trouble. Clint Hill, Aaron Hughes, Andy Johnson, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Kevin Doyle should all be available after injuries but Jermaine Jenas (hamstring) is out. Meet the managers please log in to view this image please log in to view this image (Kaitlin) Pearson v (Louise) Redknapp Possible starting XI please log in to view this image - - - please log in to view this image MATCH FACTS Head-to-head • Leicester won the earlier meeting 1-0 at Loftus Road in December. • Both sides have won three of the last six meetings. • Leicester have won only one of the last five meetings at the King Power Stadium, drawing one and losing three. Their only home win since 2005 was 4-0 in April 2010. Leicester • Leicester have won only one of their last four games, drawing two and losing one. • Nigel Pearson's side have scored 78 league goals so far this season - more than any other side in the Championship. • Leicester lost their last home game 4-1 against Brighton on 8 April - their only defeat in their last 13 league games at the King Power Stadium. QPR • QPR have won only one of their last four games, drawing one and losing two. • They have kept 17 clean sheets in the league so far this season - only Brighton have managed more. • Rangers have lost four of their last five away games, winning the other one. Their only win on the road since early last month was 3-1 at Middlesbrough on 22 March. please log in to view this image LoftForWords Betting Suarez v Norwich offers money making chances galore http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/34811/suarez-v-norwich-offers-money-making-chances-galore--betting History Nygaard's St Patrick's Day wonder strike http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/34810/nygaards-st-patricks-day-wonder-strike--history Opposition focus The man with the plan http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/34809/the-man-with-the-plan--opposition-profile
Once again you've done us all proud Norway. Thanks again for your sterling efforts, they are much appreciated. I'm just back in from an evening out in the Egyptian desert, I'll get the family to bed and peruse the posts on the board along with the company of a couple of mild sherries. I've found a pub not too far from where I'm staying that is showing the R's match, so I'll be in there tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully we can get something from it, but a good team performance will be just as important as we head into the play off's.
Hats off to you once again Mr NorwayRanger! Great effort mate. Now Rangers do us proud and repay NorwayRanger's efforts with 3 points on the table. Come on you RRRRRRRRRRss!!!!
good skills Norway !! it would be so QPR to go there and get a win today. We could all start dreaming of 2nd place again. they have slipped a bit but i'd be happy with a draw and 3 from Watford on Monday ... 2-1 rangers it is then !!
You do realise NorwayRanger that if we continue to win in front of the cameras when you've prepared the match thread that we'll all become a bit superstitious and insist on you doing this for all upcoming TV matches.
999's, are you sure you want to risk ruining your holiday by watching the game today? Have Crystal Palace announced our team yet? It would be interesting to see how close they can get to Harry's selection.
This is now a must win if we are to avoid Wigan in the semis. On the plus side, tickets should be easier to get hold of for the away game over reading or Brighton.
Nice one, Norway. Agree with Nines, we need a good performance to build on the Forest result as we head towards the play-offs. We'll need to be at our best to overcome Wigan or Derby County that both look good right now.
You can look at it both ways, I could say we have more chance beating them in a one off game. They beat citeh at Wembley, they'd have had no chance over two legs. Wigan also cheat a lot, I'm sure they'd get a dodgy pen or red card for us over two legs, I'm not sure the ref would do that at Wembley.
We've got the weirdest looking line up I've seen all season. Anyone know why Austin isn't included at all?
Team is out Green, Simpson, Yun, Onuha, Hughes Kranky, henry, Beni, O'neil, BAE Maiga subs: Murphy, Morrison, Dunne, SWP, Keane, Zamora & Donaldson apparently
Green, Simpson, Yun, Onuoha, Hughes, Kranjcar, Henry, Benayoun, O'Neil, Assou-Ekotto, Maiga Subs: Murphy, Morrison, Dunne, Wright-Phillips, Keane, Zamora, Donaldson Pick the bones out of that. How many points do we need to be certain of making the play-offs? Cos we're getting squat all today, with that team
Is Harry saying that we can afford to lose this one and saving Austin and Morrison for the play offs?
Team is set up for a draw, Not bad i i dont see us scoring at any stage soon ! Targetting Watford for 3 points I HOPE !
True to 'Arry form, that's the strangest looking lineup I've seen in a long time. Even Palace couldn't have predicted that one! Cheers for the efforts Thor, much appreciated. The Sun is out, the R's are playing, the Pharaoh Nines is all settled into his wee boozer in Pyramid land and all's right with the World. C'mon u SOOOOOOOOOOOOOPA HOOOOOOOOOOOOPSAAAAAAAAAAAA!
