On Sky
It really is a basement battle at Loftus Road on Sunday, as the only sides without a Premier League win face off against each other. QPR are looking to push on after two credible performances against Arsenal and Everton, while the Royals need to respond after their embarrassing 7-5 defeat to the Gunners on Tuesday night.
Vital Quotes:
QPR boss Mark Hughes – ”We have in recent weeks played against teams in the top half of the table and we have acquitted ourselves well without getting the points we felt we deserved. Now we are up against teams that are in and around us so they take on more significance because we need to get maximum points. We know we’ve got opportunities in the games we have coming up to get more points on the board and that’s our intention.’
Reading manager Brian McDermott – ‘If you make a mistake in this league you get punished. Individual errors have cost us, we haven’t got away with anything. An error against Swansea, we didn’t stay with the runner and got punished, Berbatov’s goal, set plays, we have to be better at those details then we’ll start keeping clean sheets. 18 goals in two games is amazing so let’s go for a 1-0 shall we!’
QPR Team News:
Rangers will be without defender Stephane M’Bia, who has sent off against Arsenal last week. Despite injury concerns with Bobby Zamora, the forward is likely to play. However, captain Ji-Sung Park is out with a knee problem.
Player to watch: Adel Taraabt
The Moroccan did not live up to his hype in last year’s campaign under Warnock or Hughes, but it looks as if Taraabt is finally starting to show his class in the Prem. Will be a handful for the shaky Royals backline.
Reading Team News:
Reading manager Brian McDermott has a few injury problems in centre midfield, with Jem Karacan out for a month and Danny Guthrie reportedly suffering with a thigh problem.
Player to watch: Mikele Leigertwood
The first time the midfielder will play his former side since leaving them in 2010. Will want to prove a point at Loftus Road after constantly being overlooked.
Expected line-ups:
QPR: Cesar, Bosingwa, Nelsen, Ferdinand, Traoré, Mackie, Granero, Diakité, Taarabt, Hoilett, Zamora
Reading: McCarthy, Gunter, Mariappa, Gorkss, Shorey, Kebe, Leigertwood, Tabb, McAnuff, Pogrebnyak, Hunt
Ref Watch:
The referee for the game will be Michael Oliver.
Match Prediction:
I’m not very confident about this as QPR want the win just as much as us. I have a horrible feeling their quality will shine through.
Vital Reading prediction: 3-1 loss
Next Fixtures:
QPR – Stoke (A) – Sat 10th November – Premier League
Reading – Norwich (H) – Sat 10th November – Premier League
