QPR v Chelsea FA Cup fourth round Venue: Loftus Road Date: Saturday, 28 January Kick-off: 1200 GMT TEAM NEWS All eyes will be on the possibility of a conciliatory handshake between John Terry and Anton Ferdinand. QPR have an injury-hit squad as new boss Mark Hughes comes up against his former side. Akos Buzsaky, Danny Gabbidon, Matthew Connolly, Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell all doubts for selection. Chelsea captain Terry is expected to start but his compatriot Frank Lampard will miss out having suffered a calf tear in the draw against Norwich. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head ⢠This is the 50th competitive West London derby between these sides. Queens Park Rangers have won 14, Chelsea 18, and 17 have been drawn thus far. ⢠Rangers already pulled off a shock 1-0 home win over the Blues in the Premier League in October. Heidar Helguson scored a 10th minute penalty, and Chelsea ended with nine men, with Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba getting their marching orders in the first half. ⢠Chelsea lead 3-1 in the FA Cup head-to-head standings, prevailing in the quarter-finals of the cup-winning year in 1970, the fourth round in 1996 and third round in 2008. Rangers went through after a third round replay in 1974. Queen's Park Rangers ⢠Having steered Queen's Park Rangers to their first FA Cup victory in 11 years, new boss Mark Hughes now sends out a side to face his former club, targeting a first fifth round appearance since 1997. ⢠The 1-0 third round replay triumph, home to Milton Keynes, saw QPR take their place in the fourth round for the first time since 2001. ⢠The R's have lost the last seven ties against Premier League clubs, the last three away from home. They have not eliminated one since West Ham in the fourth round, in January 1995 at Loftus Road. Chelsea ⢠Everton denied Chelsea their place in the fifth round 12 months ago. It was the first time in 13 seasons the London club had failed to make it. ⢠Andre Villas-Boas saw his side put four goals past Portsmouth without reply in the third round. They have now scored in 17 consecutive FA Cup outings. ⢠Chelsea are challenging for a seventh FA Cup, and fourth in six seasons. They have completed 17 matches in the cup without defeat (excluding penalty shoot-outs), and have lost one of the last 28. QPR v CHELSEA - THE TEAMS QPR: Kenny, Hill, Hall, Mackie, Buzsaky, Barton, Young, Smith, Helguson, Wright-Phillips, Ferdinand. Subs: Cerny, Orr, Derry, Hulse, Ephraim, Macheda, Onuoha. Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Ramires, Torres, Mata, Malouda, Meireles, Sturridge, Terry. Subs: Turnbull, Essien, Romeu, Bosingwa, Lukaku, Cahill, Bertrand.
So it looks like Mackie and HH up front. Chelsea look just about full strength, they must be taking it seriously...
The Football Association have confirmed that there will be no pre-match handshake between Chelsea and QPR at Loftus Road. The FA says it "has agreed to the request by both clubs in an attempt to further diffuse tensions before the match."
We still don't seem to be able to retain possession, so frustrating. SWP booked, innocuous challenge...
BBC pundit Lee Dixon on Football Focus: "The defeat to Queens Park Rangers in October really hurt Chelsea. I have friends that support Chelsea, and to lose to their local rivals like that was difficult. The season still has a lot to offer but it's taken them a while to bounce back and they'll be determined to put that right today."
Have to say one size have been good today, taking away some of the pressure on Anton which is good. Clint deserves a mention as well, in total controll of Sturridge.
A bit of a sterile first half. For all their possession Chelsea have rarely threatened. I'm disappointed with the amount of ball we give away, particularly in our own half. That said, the defence looks much more solid than previously. Hall has done well but Buz has been a bit anonymous. I wonder whether MH will make a change or two by the 60 minute mark?...
We dont look particularly threatening at all. Something from a set piece looks like our only possible chance of scoring ATM, unless of course, Terry goes on his arse again and lets someone in. Keep the faith, Urrrrrrs
Terry will be taking it up the arse when he does his stretch! Did he slip on the soap in the first half?
