|
QUEENS PARK RANGERS v WEST BROMWICH
ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 20th December 2014, 3:00pm
Loftus Road
MATCH
NOTES
The game will be the 43rd league and cup meeting between the two clubs. Albion
currently lead the way in terms of victories with 18 compared to Rangers' 14.
Albion's last game on this date came in 2003 when a
Johnnie Jackson goal condemned Gary Megson's men to a 1-0 defeat at Highfield
Road in a League Division One encounter. The Baggies' last win on December 20
came in a League Division Two clash back in 1992 when goals from Bernard McNally
and Alan Dickens gave the club a 2-0 win over Mansfield Town at The Hawthorns.
Rangers' last game on this date came in 2008 when
goals from Heidar Helguson (2) and Dexter Blackstock earned the R's a 3-2 win over
Preston North End in a Championship clash at Loftus Road.
The Baggies are unbeaten in the previous four
Premier League meetings of the two clubs.
Albion have the joint best defence on the road this
season, conceding just seven goals in seven games, but the Baggies also have the
joint worst goalscoring record away from home, notching just three goals.
If he features in the game, Youssouf Mulumbu will
make his 150th Premier League appearance for the club.
Albion's last six games: Aston Villa (H) 1-0; Hull
City (A) 0-0; West Ham United (H) 1-2; Arsenal (H) 0-1; Chelsea (A) 0-2;
Newcastle United (H) 0-2.
Rangers' last six games: Everton (A) 1-3; Burnley
(H) 2-0; Swansea City (A) 0-2; Leicester City (H) 3-2; Newcastle United (A) 0-1;
Manchester City (H) 2-2.
TEAM
NEWS
Albion
Baggies' captain Chris Brunt
returns to the squad following his recent hamstring injury but Victor Anichebe
is a doubt due to a groin problem, the striker facing a late fitness test ahead
of the trip to Loftus Road.
Jonas Olsson (Achilles) and
Georgios Samaras (compassionate leave) are both out.
Queens Park Rangers
The hosts' are boosted by the
return of eight-goal top scorer Charlie Austin from suspension but Rangers' boss
Harry Redknapp will have to do without full back Mauricio Isla who will miss the
game after returning to Chile to be with his wife who is due to give birth.
Steven Caulker is a doubt (head
injury) whilst Adel Taarabt is struggling with a groin problem.
Faurlin and Sandro remain
sidelined.
MATCH
ODDS
Result
Albion Win: 2/1, Queens Park Rangers Win: 7/5,
Draw: 11/5.
First Goalscorer Albion:
Berahino 11/2, Anichebe 7/1, Ideye 15/2, Blanco 9/1, Sessegnon 9/1, Gardner
10/1, Dorrans 12/1, Morrison 12/1, Varela 12/1, Brunt 14/1, Dawson 20/1, Mulumbu
20/1, McAuley 25/1, Lescott 28/1, Baird 33/1, Yacob 33/1.
Queens Park Rangers: Austin 5/1, Zamora 6/1, Vargas
13/2, Mutch 9/1, Kranjcar 9/1, Fer 10/1, Hoilett 11/1, Phillips 11/1, Barton
12/1, Wright-Phillips 14/1, Caulker 25/1, Traore 33/1, Hill 33/1, Henry 33/1,
Onuoha 33/1, Dunne 33/1, Yun 33/1.
No Goalscorer: 17/2.
www.williamhill.com
REFEREE
Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
Pawson will be taking charge of only his second
game involving Albion, the first coming last month at The Hawthorns in the
Baggies'
2-0 defeat against Newcastle United.
The South Yorkshire official last took charge of a
Rangers' game back in August, on the opening day of the season when the R's
suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Hull.
Pawson has issued 41 yellow cards and four
red in the 12 games he has officiated so far this season.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are currently on
general sale but none will be available to purchase on the day of the game. The
Baggies have an allocation of 1,800 seats.
WEATHER FORECAST
Light cloud, 9°C
FIXTURE HISTORY
The first ever meeting between the two clubs was a friendly
match at Rangers' West Kilburn ground on 8 January 1898. The
game saw Albion run out 4-1 winners.
The first league meetings took place during the 1948/49
season. The initial game, which took place at Loftus Road on November 6,
ended in a 2-0 win for the Baggies, Dave Walsh and Frank Hodgetts the
scorers in front of a crowd of almost 25,000.
The return game at The
Hawthorns in April ended all-square at 1-1, Billy Elliott the Albion goalscorer whilst Billy Pointon netted for the visitors.
Albion’s biggest win against
Rangers is 5-1, achieved during Albion's Championship winning season of 2007/08.
Kevin Phillips (2), Ishmael Miller, Robert Koren and captain Jonathan Greening
the goalscorers for Tony Mowbray's men.
The final game of that 2007/08
season took place at Loftus Road, the Baggies clinching the Championship title
with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Do-heon Kim and Chris Brunt.
Another big win for the Baggies
came at Loftus Road in December 1968 when Albion, then under FA Cup winning
manager Alan Ashman, strolled to a 4-0 victory. Ian Collard (2), Dennis Martin
and Ronnie Rees the goalscorers.
QPR's biggest win against the
Baggies is 3-1, achieved twice, first in August 1984 when Simon Stainrod (2) and
Terry Fenwick netted and then in March 2010 when former Albion loanee Jay
Simpson was amongst the Rangers' goalscorers.
The Baggies are unbeaten in the previous four
Premier League meetings of the two clubs, winning the last three.
Albion have lost just once on
their last six visits to Loftus Road.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
(Click on game to view)
Tuesday 15 January 2013 - Albion 0-1 Queens Park Rangers - FA Cup 3rd round replay - The Hawthorns
Saturday 5 January 2013 - Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Albion - FA Cup 3rd round -
Loftus Road
Sunday 4 May 2008 - Queens Park Rangers 0-2 Albion - League Championship - Loftus Road
Monday 28 August 2000 - Albion 2-1 Queens Park Rangers - League Division One - The Hawthorns
Saturday 3 April 1982 - Albion 0-1 Queens Park Rangers - FA Cup Semi-Final - Highbury
Saturday 4 March 1967 - Albion 2-3 Queens Park Rangers - League Cup Final - Wembley Stadium
LAST LEAGUE MEETING AT LOFTUS ROAD
 Queens
Park Rangers 1-2 Albion
Barclays Premier
League
Wednesday 26th December 2012,
3:15pm
Queens Park Rangers:
Green; Fabio (Hoilett 64),
Ferdinand, Hill, Traore; Mackie , Mbia, Faurlin (Diakite 64), Wright-Phillips;
Taarabt; Cisse. Subs not used: Cesar (gk), Derry, Granero, Ehmer, Dyer.
Goalscorer:
Cisse 68
Booked:
Mbia 84 (foul)
Albion:
Foster; Jones, McAuley,
Olsson, Popov (Ridgewell 35); Mulumbu, Brunt; Fortune, Morrison (Tamas 86), Gera;
Lukaku (Long 76). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Rosenberg, Dorrans,
Odemwingie.
Goalscorers:
Brunt 29, Green 50 (og)
Attendance: 17,782
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Robert Green had a day to forget
as QPR sunk to the bottom of the table with a controversial home defeat to West
Brom. Harry Redknapp showed great confidence in Green by choosing him ahead of
fit-again Julio Cesar, but the decision backfired in the first half as Chris
Brunt beat the England stopper from 30 yards with a shot he perhaps should have
saved. Green then dropped the ball in to his own net to give the Baggies a 2-0
lead just after the re-start, although replays showed Marc-Antoine Fortune had
impeded the former West Ham stopper as he came to collect the ball as it looped
up off Armand Traore. Rangers pulled one back through Djibril Cisse, but they
otherwise lacked a cutting edge up front that suggests Redknapp will have to
make major changes to his squad next month if his team are to avoid relegation
from the Barclays Premier League. There was an element of luck about both West
Brom's goals, but other than the occasional flash of brilliance from Adel
Taarabt, Redknapp's team offered little going forward and were also shaky at the
back.
Kick-off was delayed by 11
minutes after West Brom's team bus was delayed by the Boxing Day sales traffic
around Loftus Road. Redknapp's blast at his under-achieving strugglers following
their defeat at Newcastle seemed to have an effect early on today as QPR started
promisingly amid miserable weather in west London. Stephane Mbia fired a drive
inches wide as Ben Foster scrambled across his line. Taarabt nutmegged Brunt
with a brilliant piece of skill, but the northern Irishman tripped the Moroccan
up to prevent him from unleashing a shot at goal. Youssouf Mulumbu and James
Morrison both had wayward long-range efforts, but QPR were otherwise
unthreatened as Clint Hill and Anton Ferdinand kept the powerful Romelu Lukaku
at bay. Wright-Phillips produced a dazzling piece of skill to beat Mulumbu and
Billy Jones but Jamie Mackie could only head the winger's cross tamely wide. QPR
looked the more likely of the two sides to score, but it was the Baggies fans
who were celebrating just before the half hour when Brunt put the visitors
ahead. The midfielder picked the ball up from Fortune and strode at goal before
unleashing a 30-yard drive that sailed in to the bottom right-hand corner of
Green's goal. Although he was slightly unsighted by two of his defenders,
replays showed the England goalkeeper should have maybe done better. Morrison
almost made it 2-0 seconds later with a clever volley, but the home side
regained their composure and went close through Mbia and Taarabt. Rangers still
looked suspect at the back, however. A bizarre mix-up between Traore and Hill
allowed Brunt some time on the edge of the box but he could only shoot wide.
Albion, sensing the opportunity to score a second just before the break,
continued to push forward and almost found the net in injury time through
Morrison.
After the break the story
remained the same. Lukaku found space in the box, but could only prod weakly at
Green and Anton Ferdinand almost turned Jones' cross in to his own net. Mbia
summed up the lack of quality in front of goal for QPR when he wriggled free
from his marker to meet Taarabt's corner, but his header flew straight back at
the Moroccan, rather than at goal. The home fans were then outraged as West Brom
doubled their lead in controversial circumstances. Traore attempted to clear
Brunt's corner but instead his header looped back towards his own goal. Green
attempted to collect the ball but he was impeded by Fortune, who leaned in to
the stopper, causing him to drop the ball in to his own net. The away fans
ironically chanted Green's name as the Rangers players demanded Fortune be
penalised for the foul, but referee Chris Foy shook his head and the goal stood.
Green gathered his composure to save well twice from the impressive Lukaku and
Samba Diakite. Albion took their foot off the accelerator and paid the price in
the 69th minute when Cisse latched on to Mbia's slide-rule pass and lifted the
ball over the advancing Foster. QPR threw everything at the away goal looking
for an equaliser, but they struggled to test Foster. At the other end Fortune
thought he had killed the game off when he beat Green with six minutes to go,
but his strike was correctly called offside. Foster saved brilliantly on the
line from QPR captain Clint Hill in the last minute. QPR thought they should
have had a penalty in the first of five agonising added minutes for the home
fans, but Foy waved play on when Liam Ridgewell handled Mbia's header in the
box. The home side went on the attack again, but Foster could not be beaten and
Rangers slumped to the second defeat of Redknapp's reign.
Sporting
Life
CURRENT CONNECTIONS
None.
PAST
CONNECTIONS
Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for
both clubs are: Colin Anderson, Brett Angell, Gary Bannister, Paul Barron, Steve Burke,
Lee Camp, Clive Clark, Danny Dichio, Jimmy Dugdale, Lloyd Dyer, Peter Eastoe, Wayne
Fereday, Danny Gabbidon, Allan Glover, Adam Haywood, Peter Hucker, Rob
Hulse, Andy
King, Billy Law, Andy McDermott, Ishmael Miller, Paul Peschisolido, Nigel
Quashie, Steven Reid, Alf Ridyard, Georges Santos, Ernie Shepherd, Jay Simpson,
Scott Sinclair, Jerome Thomas, Garry
Thompson, Billy Thompson, Ben Watson, Ike Webb, Fred Wheldon, Bill
Williams.
Ray Harford had short spells as manager of both clubs during the
late 1990s; Gordon Clark, who was Baggies' boss from 1959-61, was
later assistant manager at Rangers; Former Albion player and manager
Don Howe later coached and managed QPR; Mike Kelly coached at
both clubs.
ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS QUEENS PARK RANGERS
|
VENUE |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
|
Home |
21 |
11 |
6 |
4 |
38 |
23 |
|
Away |
19 |
7 |
4 |
8 |
22 |
21 |
|
Neutral |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
Total |
42 |
18 |
10 |
14 |
62 |
48 |
LAST
TEN MATCHES AGAINST QUEENS PARK RANGERS
|
DATE |
COMPETITION |
H/A |
F-A |
GOALSCORERS |
GATE |
|
Tue 15 Jan 2013 |
FA Cup |
H |
0-1 |
Bothroyd |
11,184 |
|
Sat 05 Jan 2013 |
FA Cup |
A |
1-1 |
Long - Dyer |
8,984 |
|
Wed 26 Dec 2012 |
Premier League |
A |
2-1 |
Brunt, Green (og) - Cissé |
17,782 |
|
Sat 06 Oct 2012 |
Premier League |
H |
3-2 |
Morrison, Gera, Mulumbu -
Taarabt, Granero |
23,987 |
|
Sat 14 Apr 2012 |
Premier League |
H |
1-0 |
Dorrans |
25,521 |
|
Sat 03 Dec 2011 |
Premier League |
A |
1-1 |
Long - Helguson |
17,290 |
|
Sat 06 Mar 2010 |
Championship |
A |
1-3 |
Brunt - Simpson, Connolly, Buzsaky |
14,578 |
|
Mon 14 Dec 2009 |
Championship |
H |
2-2 |
Thomas, Cox - Olsson (og), Gorkss |
21,565 |
|
Sun 04 May 2008 |
Championship |
A |
2-0 |
Kim, Brunt |
18,309 |
|
Sun 30 Sep 2007 |
Championship |
H |
5-1 |
Phillips 2, Miller, Koren, Greening - Ainsworth |
24,757 |
|
