Atouk
22 Feb 2005, 01:38 PM
QPR -- 13th, 32 GP, -4 GD, 44 points
v.
Wolverhampton Wanderers -- 18th, 32 GP, +1 GD, 40 points
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22 February 2005 19:45
Loftus Road
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Rangers News:
According to the official site (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~630507,00.html), Thorpe isn't ready and with Furlong not getting much help up top of late, it looks like Cureton will go to the bench and Gallen will likely start at forward. Rose seems likely to step into the slot of the departed Davies, leaving Santos free to remain in midfield, where he's played well of late. Bircham may return, making for a Birch/Santos central midfield pairing. Bignot could supplant Edghill at right back or replace Padula in the starting lineup, with Edghill moving to left back. Rowlands is pushing for a place in the side, while according to the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4279709.stm) Ainsworth is available but missed a couple of days of training with hamstring trouble.
It's going to be very cold and snow began falling in west London around midday, but the official site says (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~630564,00.html) there's no threat to the game due to the condition of the pitch. We've got undersoil heating and I guess the weather hasn't otherwise been bad enough to cause unplayable conditions. The photo of the pitch (at the link above) from 10 a.m. today looks great.
Also of note: Tim Breaker did the QPR World preview spot normally reserved for Holloway because Olly was out of the country on a scouting trip.
The Opponent:
They're playing pretty well at the moment with 3 wins, 2 draws and an FA Cup loss to Arsenal in their last six (most recent first):
H Gillingham D, 2-2
H Sunderland D, 1-1
A Arsenal (FA Cup) L, 0-2
A Millwall W, 2-1
H West Ham W, 4-2
H Millwall (FA Cup) W, 2-0
The First Meeting:
Wolves won 2-1 in October at Molineux. Cort scored in the 22nd & 70th. Gallen got one back in the 90th minute for the R's. Furlong was forced to miss the match with a minor injury.
Our thread for the first meeting (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145706)
The Series:
Their October win gave Wolves a slight edge as the R's now trail 11-11-12.
The teams met twice in the 1899/1900 FA Cup, but didn't play again in any competition until 1968/69!
The Referee:
Martin Atkinson has been assigned. He's issued 59 yellows and 3 reds in 25 matches this season (11 in the Championship, 2 in the Premier League, and the rest either below or in cups). He worked our 0-3 home FA Cup loss to Forest last month.
v.
Wolverhampton Wanderers -- 18th, 32 GP, +1 GD, 40 points
------
22 February 2005 19:45
Loftus Road
------
Rangers News:
According to the official site (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~630507,00.html), Thorpe isn't ready and with Furlong not getting much help up top of late, it looks like Cureton will go to the bench and Gallen will likely start at forward. Rose seems likely to step into the slot of the departed Davies, leaving Santos free to remain in midfield, where he's played well of late. Bircham may return, making for a Birch/Santos central midfield pairing. Bignot could supplant Edghill at right back or replace Padula in the starting lineup, with Edghill moving to left back. Rowlands is pushing for a place in the side, while according to the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4279709.stm) Ainsworth is available but missed a couple of days of training with hamstring trouble.
It's going to be very cold and snow began falling in west London around midday, but the official site says (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~630564,00.html) there's no threat to the game due to the condition of the pitch. We've got undersoil heating and I guess the weather hasn't otherwise been bad enough to cause unplayable conditions. The photo of the pitch (at the link above) from 10 a.m. today looks great.
Also of note: Tim Breaker did the QPR World preview spot normally reserved for Holloway because Olly was out of the country on a scouting trip.
The Opponent:
They're playing pretty well at the moment with 3 wins, 2 draws and an FA Cup loss to Arsenal in their last six (most recent first):
H Gillingham D, 2-2
H Sunderland D, 1-1
A Arsenal (FA Cup) L, 0-2
A Millwall W, 2-1
H West Ham W, 4-2
H Millwall (FA Cup) W, 2-0
The First Meeting:
Wolves won 2-1 in October at Molineux. Cort scored in the 22nd & 70th. Gallen got one back in the 90th minute for the R's. Furlong was forced to miss the match with a minor injury.
Our thread for the first meeting (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145706)
The Series:
Their October win gave Wolves a slight edge as the R's now trail 11-11-12.
The teams met twice in the 1899/1900 FA Cup, but didn't play again in any competition until 1968/69!
The Referee:
Martin Atkinson has been assigned. He's issued 59 yellows and 3 reds in 25 matches this season (11 in the Championship, 2 in the Premier League, and the rest either below or in cups). He worked our 0-3 home FA Cup loss to Forest last month.