Atouk
19 Aug 2004, 09:20 AM
QPR -- 23rd, 3 GP, 0-2-1, -3 GD, 2 Pts
v.
Derby County -- 19th, 3 GP, 1-0-2, -1 GD, 3 Pts
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21 August 2004, 15:00
Loftus Road
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Rangers News:
No word yet on the status of Tony Thorpe and Richard Edghill for Saturday. Marc Bircham was cleared to return to training this week (http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide1/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=nonwire_soccer/04/08/16/manual_121216.html) and is hopeful of a return to the first team by the end of the month. Dan Sh!ttu played 45 minutes in a reserve match yesterday. Georges Santos scored a late winner as the R's reserves beat Colchester's reserves, 1-0 (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~553701,00.html). Cook, Cureton, and Forbes went a half each, while McLeod, Santos, and Lewis Hamilton got 90. The report doesn't indicate that Cook or Cureton came out of it any worse for wear, so I expect they're both available this weekend.
The Opponent:
Former loan Ranger Lee Camp has started all three matches for Derby, surprising many by beating out Lee Grant, who performed very well in winning the job last season. Camp was called up as the reserve keeper for the England U-21 match this week.
Derby has opened with a very tough schedule -- they started with a 0-1 away loss to Leeds, followed that with a tough 1-2 home loss to Leicester City, and then defeated Ipswich Town, 3-2, at home. Two relegated Premiership teams and a team that made the play-offs last year -- ouch. So, their 1 win-2 loss record seems a bit misleading, since they've played all three tough teams well.
The Series:
Derby leads the series -- Rangers have won 9, the Rams have won 13, and there have been 12 draws. The R's record against Derby in league play is 8-9-11. The teams haven't met since spending four years together in the old, old Division 1 (now Premiership) between 87/88 and 90/91. During that stretch, Derby won 3, Rangers won 2, and there were 3 draws.
The Referee:
Mike Riley has been assigned. He worked Everton/Arsenal last weekend, issuing three yellows. He worked two matches in Euro 2004 (Sweden/Bulgaria and Latvia/Germany). The bulk of his work last year was in the Premier League, with some First Division games, plus a couple of Champions League games and a Euro qualifier. He worked the FA Cup Final in 2002. His last QPR match was an 0-2 away loss to Fulham in the First Division in March '01. The last Derby match I can find for him was an April 2002 away loss at Liverpool in the Premiership.
v.
Derby County -- 19th, 3 GP, 1-0-2, -1 GD, 3 Pts
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21 August 2004, 15:00
Loftus Road
------
Rangers News:
No word yet on the status of Tony Thorpe and Richard Edghill for Saturday. Marc Bircham was cleared to return to training this week (http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide1/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=nonwire_soccer/04/08/16/manual_121216.html) and is hopeful of a return to the first team by the end of the month. Dan Sh!ttu played 45 minutes in a reserve match yesterday. Georges Santos scored a late winner as the R's reserves beat Colchester's reserves, 1-0 (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~553701,00.html). Cook, Cureton, and Forbes went a half each, while McLeod, Santos, and Lewis Hamilton got 90. The report doesn't indicate that Cook or Cureton came out of it any worse for wear, so I expect they're both available this weekend.
The Opponent:
Former loan Ranger Lee Camp has started all three matches for Derby, surprising many by beating out Lee Grant, who performed very well in winning the job last season. Camp was called up as the reserve keeper for the England U-21 match this week.
Derby has opened with a very tough schedule -- they started with a 0-1 away loss to Leeds, followed that with a tough 1-2 home loss to Leicester City, and then defeated Ipswich Town, 3-2, at home. Two relegated Premiership teams and a team that made the play-offs last year -- ouch. So, their 1 win-2 loss record seems a bit misleading, since they've played all three tough teams well.
The Series:
Derby leads the series -- Rangers have won 9, the Rams have won 13, and there have been 12 draws. The R's record against Derby in league play is 8-9-11. The teams haven't met since spending four years together in the old, old Division 1 (now Premiership) between 87/88 and 90/91. During that stretch, Derby won 3, Rangers won 2, and there were 3 draws.
The Referee:
Mike Riley has been assigned. He worked Everton/Arsenal last weekend, issuing three yellows. He worked two matches in Euro 2004 (Sweden/Bulgaria and Latvia/Germany). The bulk of his work last year was in the Premier League, with some First Division games, plus a couple of Champions League games and a Euro qualifier. He worked the FA Cup Final in 2002. His last QPR match was an 0-2 away loss to Fulham in the First Division in March '01. The last Derby match I can find for him was an April 2002 away loss at Liverpool in the Premiership.