Boro's formidable home form sets QPR tough Friday task - Preview Friday, 20th Nov 2015 11:59 by Clive Whittingham Back from the international break, manager-less QPR face a daunting trip to high-flying Middlesbrough tonight. Middlesbrough (4th) v Queens Park Rangers (13th)Championship >>> Friday November 20, 2015 >>> Kick Off 19.45 >>> Weather — Cold and dark >>> Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough >>> Live on Sky Sports 1 QPR and Middlesbrough often meet when heading in opposite directions, and sadly that feels like it’s the case again this evening. Rangers have won the last four meetings with Boro handsomely, scoring 11 and conceding just the once. Twice they’ve had a hand in Middlesbrough sacking managers — first Gordon Strachan, who fell on his sword not long after QPR had run one through his team in a 3-0 victory at Loftus Road, then Tony Mowbray after his side surrendered meekly to a 2-0 loss on the same ground. That day, with Niko Kranjcar and Little Tom Carroll having their best games for the club, even Harry Redknapp’s dreary QPR team looked spellbinding, at one point stringing the thick end of 30 passes together in a move that almost led to the goal of the season. At the Riverside, in front of banks of empty seats, Rangers have scored three on both of their most recent visits in seasons which ended in promotion — Neil Warnock’s title winning side stuck the rounds of the kitchen through Boro in 2011, Redknapp’s play-off bound team won in slightly more fortuitous circumstances last time we were here. But prior to that, games with Boro tended to be fairly torturous affairs. As Jim Magilton’s reign imploded the R’s were beaten 5-1 at Loftus Road, and later that same season, with Mick Harford the third manager to take the helm, the 2-0 loss in the North East was the definition of routine. In the late 1990s Middlesbrough were a club reaching its peak, in a new stadium with big name foreign imports and Steve Gibson doing such a wonderful job as chairman even Bryan Robson was able to achieve bits and pieces as manager (while, naturally, getting them relegated as well). QPR lost without scoring on their first three visits to the Riverside Stadium as Ray Wilkins, Stuart Houston and Ray Harford all failed miserably to arrest a decline which would eventually take the Super Hoops from fifth in the Premier League to the bottom half of League One and bankruptcy inside a decade. There was, however, that one random 5-0 victory at Loftus Road that came out of thin air and vanished just as quickly — even Paul Bruce looked decent that night. With crowds flocking back and a Spanish/Latin American influence being felt once more, it feels like Boro are ready to return to the top flight for the first time since relegation in 2009. QPR were there last year of course, but it’s starting to feel very far away now as a steady drift down the table takes hold. Two wins in 11 isn’t as concerning as the sudden total lack of goals — Rangers have gone from the leading scorers in the division in the first two months of the season to firing blanks left right and centre. Boro, much like Preston who comfortably kept us at bay a fortnight ago, are on a run of consecutive clean sheets at home going into this one while the R’s have failed to score in four of the last five. Failing to get a shot on target at home to lowly Preston doesn’t bode well ahead of a Friday night (thanks Sky) slog up to a high flying side which has only conceded twice on its own ground all season. Currently managerless - although thankfully going through some sort of considered process to correct that rather than rushing to appoint whatever big name, flavour of the month character somebody has got into Tony Fernandes’ ear/Twitter inbox about — QPR feel like they’re on the slide again. Fans are now slowly waking up to the idea that the players we were so excited about keeping last summer — Sandro, Rob Green and Leroy Fer in particular — either aren’t that good after all, aren’t producing what they’re capable of, or both. This feels like a game where caretaker boss Neil Warnock will try and keep things tight and pinch a point, only to fall a goal behind and not have a way to claw back the deficit. It could, however, be a big, confidence-boosting turning point if a result can be scrapped out. Fingers crossed for the latter, because it’s starting to look like a long hard winter ahead and a bloody tough job for whoever is eventually entrusted with taking it on. Links >>> Boro’s Spanish influence — Opposition Profile >>> Banishing Wembley memories — Interview >>> Helguson’s Boro brace — History >>> Rookie official — Referee >>> Tough nut to crack — Betting Bobby Zamora’s freak last minute winner, deflecting off a discarded bottle cap en route, when QPR last visited this ground two seasons back. FridayTeam News: QPR will take late checks on Junior Hoilett and Massimo Luongo who have both been jetting off here there and everywhere with Canada and Australia respectively in the past fortnight. Jamie Mackie is a long term absentee. Boro have lost Uruguayan striker Cristhian Stuani, who over indulged while away on international duty. Defender Fernando Amorebieta is away on a stag do and Adam Forshaw has stubbed his toe on the end of the bed so both are unavailable. Elsewhere: A whole fortnight with no Championship action — we’ll be punished for this with a game every day over Christmas. Boro QPR is merely the curtain raiser for a virtual smorgasbord of rip roaring, high quality second tier football this weekend. Birmingham v Charlton, just as a for instance — salivate at the prospect. Salivate damn you. Steve Evans will be ready for the Steve Evans derby between the Champions of Europe and his former club Rotherham, according to Steve Evans. On the other side of the Pennines, Preston and the Mad Chicken Farmers are renewing local hostilities at Deepdale — Paul Lambert’s first match in charge of Rovers that one. Sky, presumably angered by BT’s continued erosion of their patch, have decided to chuck their weight around and show everybody who’s boss. They’ve shifted QPR’s longest trip of the season to Friday night, Sunderland’s second longest trip of the season (Palace away) to Monday, one of Brighton’s longest trips of the season (Burnley) to Sunday lunchtime, and one of Tigers Tigers Rah Rah Rah’s longest treks (Bristol City) to Saturday lunchtime. Scum. Sub human scum. Referee: Chris Kavanagh from Manchester is in charge of this one, his second Middlesbrough appointment of the season following their opening weekend draw at Preston but his first ever career appointment with QPR. His stats are available by clicking here. FormMiddlesbrough: Boro have a scary home record this season — six wins, one draw and a solitary defeat with 15 goals scored and only two conceded. It was lowly Bristol City that came here and picked up the only win for a visiting team so far this season, which provides some hope, and to be fair the teams they’ve beaten here since are mostly the division’s weaker sides — MK Dons, Brentford pre-manager change, Wolves, Leeds, Charlton and Rotherham. Nevertheless, they’ve scored 15 goals across those six matches and have kept clean sheets in their last five home matches. They were rinsed 3-0 at Hull City last time out though. QPR: Rangers’ form since the transfer window closed has been increasingly alarming - just two wins from 11 games. What’s more concerning is the goals that were flowing freely until a month ago have now dried up completely — Rangers notched 22 in their first 12 games but have failed to score in four of their last five, including the last three. Against Preston at home last time out the R’s didn’t manage a serious shot on target. The away results have dropped off in a similar way — three wins from the first four road trips in all competitions with seven scored and four conceded is now four straight defeats with eight conceded and one scored. QPR are now seven points away from the bottom three and eight away from the play-offs. QPR have dropped ten points from winning positions, and picked up seven after falling behind — both the division’s highest. Betting: Our resident professional odds compiler Owen Goulding tells us… “QPR make the long journey north on Friday evening to face a Middlesbrough side slowly turning the Riverside into a fortress. “Boro have lost just one game at home all season and that was back in August. They have scored 15 and conceded just two goals in those home games and it’s hard to see Rangers causing their watertight defence many problems. The R’s have failed to score in four of their previous five games and, Charlie Austin looks out of sorts and Neil Warnock is still tinkering with formations and line ups. “The stats point vehemently to QPR struggling to break down a resolute Boro defence. Looking at prices available, Boro can be backed at odds of 5/4 to keep a clean sheet - it seems a must play.” Recommended Bet: Middlesbrough v QPR - Middlesbrough Clean sheet @ 5/4 (generally available) Prediction: Reigning Prediction League champion isawqpratwhitecity is not in optimistic mood ahead of the trip north… "Can't see any joy here. We've forgotten how to score and we're visiting a team that makes it all seem fairly easy. Just the right conditions for Rangers to pull out an upset win? Yeah, good luck with that.” Jim’ Prediction: Middlesbrough 3-0 QPR. No Scorer LFW’s Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-0 QPR. No Scorer. The Twitter @loftforwords Pictures — Action Images Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
You need to login in order to post your comments |
   Blogs 31 bloggersQueens Park Rangers Polls[ Vote here ] |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.We in turn value your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
