As QPR return to Loftus Road looking for their first home league win of the season ash takes his usual look at the key factors in the match against Barnsley.

Living up to potential:
Thanks to my profession, I was sat in the Chelsea press area on Wednesday night mostly surrounded by journalists who were seeing QPR play for the first time this season. After the game the general consensus seemed to be a very positive one and most agreed that if we can play like that in the Championship we should be at least knocking on the door in May (they also said we needed an out and out goal scorer - tell us something we don't know eh!). This is something we’ve all been saying since the start of the season, that IF this team can gel and IF Jim Magilton can keep to a settled XI then we have a very good team capable of results like last weekend and performances like the one at Stamford Bridge. As Clive said in his match report, there wasn't a bad player in a hooped shirt on either the Cardiff or Chelsea pitch last week and the likes of Rowlands, Simpson and Routledge are looking really sharp. Now we need to transfer this potential and turn into consistency, the two games have been a vast improvement on anything else this season but we now need to continue that form going into Saturday’s game at home to Barnsley.
QPR are best priced 8/11 to win this game with Ladbrokes and Coral, Barnsley are as long as 9/2 with Sky Bet and bet365 among others

A home win:
Two impressive away performances will be long forgotten if we turn in another toothless performance on Saturday. Although we are unbeaten at HQ this campaign, we also haven't actually won a game at home yet, even after visits from such illustrious teams like Blackpool and Peterborough. Saturday brings Barnsley to Loftus Road, fresh off a win over Premier League side Burnley in the Carling Cup and in confident mood under new manager Mark Robins. Once again Rangers will go into this game as favourites and especially after the week the team have had, will be expected to turn over the Tykes regardless of what form there in. But expectation seems to be a monkey on our backs so far this season, we were expected to beat Blackpool and Peterbrough but not Cardiff or possibly Scunthorpe, which would suggest as Magilton stated after the Posh game that the players are feeling the strain in front of their own fans. We need to play out parts in this though, I know Wednesday nights atmosphere was a one-off because of the nature of the game but if our lot on Saturday are even 10% as good we were last week then if can’t help but not galvanize the side to another three points. We are a better side then Barnsley and we need the players need to go out there and show the performance we’ve seen in the last two games, then hopefully we’ll be a very happy club all around come Saturday teatime.
Another 1-1 draw that would be QPR’s fifth of the season already is longest price 13/2 with Sky Bet

Jay Simpson:
One post on the message board this week made me chuckle. It was the message comparing the picture of Jay Simpson scoring at Cardiff to one Les Ferdinand. Now I’m sure the poster was referring to Simpson’s looks and stature then he’s overall play but I sensed a hope in the post that was suggesting that the R’s number 23 could be the next Sir Les. Well Saturday wasn't a bad start, two very impressive strikes against one of the divisions most fancied teams was added to the neat and sensible all round game we’ve already seen from the Arsenal loanee. Now like the rest of the players around him, Simpson needs to build on last week’s goals and performance and become a threat in the division. Him becoming the next Les Ferdinand is highly unlikely, but it’s more important that he becomes the first Jay Simpson and consistently scores the goals they take Rangers to the summit and beyond this season. Then at least he’d be held in the same regard as old Sir Les. The winner on Saturday would a great way to continue.
Simpson is 11/2 for the first goal with Bet365, 7/4 to score at any time with the same company, and 40/1 for a hat trick with Sky Bet

Jim Magilton: Two great performances in a week, with the same XI bar Watson and Cerny would suggest that Madge has finally settled (or stumbled) on his best team and seems to be working. With Watson set to come back in for the unfortunate Faurlin, who had his best game for the club on Wednesday, hopefully we will see the same line-up on Saturday, another impressive display and our first home win under the Irishman.
Rangers are 15/8 to win by two goals or more with Bet365, 14/1 to win by four goals or more with Paddy Power and 7/2 with the same company to score draw

Photo: Action Images

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