After the high of wiping the dirty off Pride Park, the Rams head to Loftus Road ready to spoil a televised party. Will Derby will give fans all around the world something to cheer about at least once more this season?

Monday 18th April 2011

Loftus Road - LondonQPR v Rams  - Historical

Last game at Loftus Rd.

Tue 23 Mar 10    QPR 1 - 1 Derby; Barker

Recent Form

QPR: 1/24 P 41 W 23 D 13 L 5 F 65 A 27

Leading scorers: Taarabt (16)

Derby: 19/24 P 41 W 13 D 9 L 19 F 53 A 60

Leading scorers:  Bueno, Cywka, Moore, Savage (4)

The Rams

Derby travels to Loftus Road coming off arguably one of their best all round performances of the season against Leeds, which went a long way to securing Championship safety.

It will be a different kettle of hoops when they find themselves in enemy territory, in front of an expectant home crowd and TV cameras beaming the Rams' efforts around the world.

These factors may be to their advantage, as the home team will know how much is expected of them for the clash. If Derby can put them on the back foot early perhaps they can produce an upset akin to Scunthorpe’s effort over QPR a couple of weeks back.

The main concern is the ex-Ram curse as they are likely to confront Tommy Smith and in particular Rob Hulse, who will be desperate to show Clough and co. what they decided they could do without.

With a bit of breathing space between his team and the bottom three, Nigel Clough certainly hopes his players will play a more relaxed style of football:

"The result against Leeds on Tuesday should allow us to relax and play with a little bit more freedom at QPR, we can go there and try to be as positive as we can be and see how we measure up against them.”  

"For us, it's now all about sending out the right message in the final games as we look ahead to next season. We would like to bring in five or six players and show that we intend to give it a go next season.”  

"QPR should give us hope for next season. Last year they finished just above us and now they are top, and deservedly so. They brought in a lot of players last summer and they have shown what can be achieved.”  

“But, hopefully, we can delay their party on Monday night."

Possible team

Jones

Brayford Barker Ayala Roberts

B. Davies Savage Bailey Pearson

S.Davies Ward

SUBS: Severn Cywka Porter Addison Anderson Pringle Doyle

Rams Current Squad

No.    Position    Player

2    Defender    John Brayford

3    Defender    Gareth Roberts

4    Midfield    Paul Green

5    Defender    Shaun Barker (vice-captain)

6    Defender    Dean Leacock

7    Striker        Steve Davies

8    Midfield    Robbie Savage (club captain)

10    Striker        Jamie Ward (on loan from Sheffield United)

11    Midfield    Stephen Pearson

12    Striker        Chris Porter

13    Keeper        Saul Deeney

14    Defender    Russell Anderson

16    Midfield    James Bailey

17    Defender    Jake Buxton

18    Midfield    Ben Pringle

19    Striker        Tomasz Cywka

20    Defender    Miles Addison

21    Defender    Daniel Ayala (on loan from Liverpool)

23    Striker        Conor Doyle

24    Midfield    Arnaud Mendy

25    Defender    Mark O'Brien

26    Striker        Callum Ball

27    Striker        Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid)

28    Midfield    Ben Davies

29    Midfield    Jeff Hendrick

34    Keeper        Brad Jones

QPR

Mathematically, if Rangers defeat the Rams they will still not have secured automatic promotion but it would take a brave mathematician to bet against them if they do.

The pressure to put in a performance in front of a massive home crowd who are ready to party for the world on live television will either lift the team, or maybe rattle them.

Not much else has rattled them this season so I would expect the first of the two.

Neil Warnock is wary of the visitors who had his team on the ropes for ninety minutes in their last meeting:

"I think Derby were the best side we played this season, I think that shows what the league is all about." 

“Five games to go, we've had ups and downs the last couple of games.” 

"They're long journeys. It would be nice to be at home but as the results have shown, there's no such thing as a banker or anything."

Current QPR Squad

No.        Position    Player

1        Keeper        Paddy Kenny

2        Defender    Bradley Orr

3        Defender    Clint Hill

4        Midfield    Shaun Derry

5        Defender    Fitz Hall

7        Midfield    Adel Taarabt (captain)

9        Striker        Heiðar Helguson

10        Midfield    Ákos Buzsáky

11        Midfield    Alejandro Faurlín

12        Striker        Jamie Mackie

13        Defender    Kaspars Gorkšs

14        Midfield    Martin Rowlands

15        Midfield    Wayne Routledge (on loan from Newcastle United)

16        Defender    Matthew Connolly

17        Midfield    Lee Cook

19        Striker        Patrick Agyemang

20        Striker        Rob Hulse

21        Midfield    Tommy Smith

22        Defender    Peter Ramage

23        Midfield    Petter Vaagan Moen

24        Keeper        Radek Cerný

25        Midfield    Hogan Ephraim

26        Defender    Gary Borrowdale

29        Striker        Ishmael Miller (on loan from West Bromwich Albion)

30        Midfield    Romone Rose

32        Keeper        Elvijs Putninš

33        Striker        Antonio German

36        Midfield    Bruno Andrade

37        Midfield    Georgios Tofas

39        Defender    Pascal Chimbonda

40        Defender    Michael Harriman

41        Defender    Danny Shittu

42        Striker        Troy Hewitt

—        Striker        Rowan Vine

What the bookies think

QPR are clear favourites as 1/2 on. The Rams are at 11/2 while the draw is at 16/5.

Patrick Agyemang and Rob Hulse are both at 9/2 while Tommy Smith is at 5/1. Alberto Bueno and Steve Davies are both at 8/1.

Information for travelling fans

Driving

Given the problems with the M1, you should probably head across to the M40 south and then take the A40 towards Central London. When the A40 becomes the A40 (M), turn off onto the A40 towards White City/Shepherds Bush and turn right into Wood Lane, turn right into South Africa Road for the ground.

Parking

It's a bugger to park near the ground. If you head over into Shepherds Bush it's not to Difficult to find street parking but there are lots of residents only parking and charge zones. If you aren't London based, it's probably easier to take the train.

Drinking

The Springbok Pub is now home fans only though apparently some away fans get in depending on the bouncer. Around Shepherds Bush Green is O’Neill’s and Walkabout which are both okay for away fans.

Mick's prediction

We seem to have done well here over the years. They are flying high and could even be promoted after this game.

We conceded 2 late goals after outplaying them earlier in the season.

We beat Leeds and there's no reason not to be confident in this game.

I can't see us winning - however though anything is possible.

QPR 2-2 Rams

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls