Jamie Mackie and Clint Hill have been speaking about getting back on track as the R’s face Reading at Loftus Road this Sarurday.

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Striker Jamie Mackie, again linked with a move to Premiership Everton in the press today, says he is confident both he and QPR will rediscover their form this weekend. Mackie told the Kilburn Times: “There’s definitely a big win around the corner – it’s hard to pinpoint why that hasn’t happened in the last few games, but you have to give credit to the teams we’ve played. Teams coming to our place are resolute, they’ve done their homework on us and we need to think of new ways we can break them down. We’ve got a Plan B and there’s definitely no panic in the squad or anything like that. If we’re on our game, the wins will start coming again. Psychologically we wanted to stay on top, of course, but when you’re in the top two and unbeaten at this stage of the season, I think everyone at QPR would have taken that, no question.” “You can’t get too high when you’re scoring and you can’t get low when you’re not. It’s about being level-headed and playing your part. If you’re not scoring, you’ve got to contribute in other ways and I’ve done that, setting up a great header from Heidar to win the Palace game, for instance. Eight goals in 14 games is still a decent ratio and it doesn’t concern me that I haven’t been scoring. If I wasn’t getting chances it’d be a concern, but I’ve got targets for this season and I think I can reach them.”

Veteran defender Clint Hill has admitted the R’s took to the air too much to try and find a way to unlock Burnley at Loftus Road last weekend and must do better against the Royals. Hill told the Ealing Gazette: “I don't think there's been any anxiety, but we definitely played longer ball than we have been doing, and probably did it too much. I think credit's got to go to Burnley for that, though. I think they kind of swamped us in midfield and we couldn't play through them as we like to. They stopped us getting Adel into the game as much as we wanted and it was frustrating. I think we do try to mix it up, playing long ball when it's needed, but I can't see us doing it as much in the rest of the season.

"We shouldn't be worried about these draws. I just think we've been playing some good teams, or teams that have just come in to a bit of form or are struggling and need to get a result.We are still creating chances, but are probably not quite as ruthless as we were six or seven games ago. We know we need to be more clinical. We know the wins will come again and if this is the so-called blip, at least we're not losing games. I can understand the other side, where we would be better off if we were to forego the unbeaten run, lose a few games and win the rest."

Reading are in buoyant mood ahead of the game following a 4-3 victory against Doncaster last weekend. Striker Noel Hunt told the Crowthore and Sandhurst Times: “I’ve never been to Loftus Road, but it’s one of the places where I’ve always wanted to play. From what I’ve heard I think it’s a bit like Hearts’ ground in Scotland. The fans are noisy and right on top of you, so I’m looking forward to it. If we do manage to get something out of that one it keeps us right up there. They’ll want to get back to winning games and we know they have some key individual players that we have to keep quiet. I saw them play Bristol City on TV the other day and I’ve watched a few videos of them. They have a good squad of players and will be up there near the end, but hopefully so will we.”

Midfielder Brian Howard told the Reading Evening Post that the Royals are keen to exorcise the ghosts of the 4-1 defeat in W12 last season. He said: “There’s a few of us who played in that game last year that need to put it to bed now. For anyone involved in the club – that game at QPR was a low moment. We beat them 1-0 at our place, but I think we have to go there and put a few ghosts to bed. You get over it, but deep down we still think we owe them one and that will give us the extra incentive. And it would be great to go back and break my duck there this season on Saturday.”

With another series of crucial international friendlies on the horizon Heidar Helguson is the first QPR player to be called up – he has been added to the Iceland squad for their friendly with Israel on November 17.

Finally 16-year-old R's keeper Gareth Deane has been placed on standby for the Northern Ireland Under 21s. The youngster has been playing for Rangers’ Under 18s this season and will be on call for the international against Scotland on November 17.

Loan Watch

Two of QPR’s youngsters are set to head out on loan shortly according to manager Neil Warnock. The gaffer was less than impressed with Josh Parker’s early return from Northampton in October, and also wants Antonio German to experience some first team football at a decent level having had an approach for his services from Championship side Doncaster.

Warnock told the Ealing Gazette: “I could have got Josh fixed with a club a bit further away from home, but he didn't really fancy that, so he went to Northampton. But I might insist next time because I need him to play games. He can't just pick where he wants to go now. He's got to go where I know they will play him. Now Kyle Walker's with us until January, we need him to go out on loan. I think it was a mutual thing at Northampton. They had one or two coming back from injury and didn't require him. He wasn't going to get a game, so he might as well come back and train with us. I'm not disappointed it was cut short, it was an experience for him and I think young players need more of that.

"I've got one or two people enquiring about Antonio now and I'll probably loan him out this week if I get the chance. I've had a Championship club after him and a couple of League One sides.”

Former R’s

Jay Simpson is set to earn a recall to the Hull City team this weekend following Rowan Vine’s return to QPR. City elected not to extend Vine’s deal after five games and no goals during his first month at the KC Stadium and will now hand Simpson another chance to impress when they face Scunthorpe at the weekend. The Hull Daily Mail reports City were disappointed with Vine’s form on the field and attitude off it during his spell on Humberside. Simpson scored 13 goals for Rangers last season during a loan spell from Arsenal.

Dean Parrett has admitted frustration lay behind his first ever senior goal for Plymouth against Bristol Rovers in the week. Parrett, on loan at Argyle from Spurs, lashed home the rebound from a Craig Noone free kick that he had initially wanted to take himself. Parrett said: “I've been practicing them every day for the last month and I wanted to take it. I ran over to get the ball and I was a little bit angry that I didn't take it - I think that's why I hit it. I think that, if I was calm, I would have brought it down and crossed it for Bradley." Parrett has made eight appearances for Argyle in League One so far after a similar spell with Aldershot in League Two last season.

Championship shorts

- Doncaster have moved quickly to replace Billy Sharp following his hamstring tear, by signing Sunderland striker David Healy on a one month loan deal. Healy has only played international football since his loan spell with Ipswich came to an end last season.

- Bristol City have announced record losses of £11.8m for the last financial year. Chairman Steve Lansdown said squad building and the stalled attempts to move to a new stadium were to blame.

- Scunthorpe’s shaky defence has suffered another blow following the 4-1 home defeat by Leeds last weekend. Centre half David Mirfin has been ruled out of action for up to six weeks with a foot injury.

- Palace and Millwall will go head to head in the January transfer window to try and secure the services of Plymouth’s Bradley Wright Phillips. Despite the Pilgrims struggling at the bottom of League One following relegation from the Championship last season Wright Phillips has managed to score eight goals.

Parish Noticeboard

Weekend tube closures:

Piccadilly Line has no service between Hammersmith and Northfields or Ealing Common, and is also suspended between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge due to track replacement work.

The District Line is suspended between West Kensington and Ealing Broadway and Richmond for the same work.

There is no service on the Docklands Light Railway between Bank/Tower Gateway and Poplar/West India Quay.

There is no Overground service between Gospel Oak and Stratford after 0915 on Saturday.

Photo: Action Images

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