Atouk
13 Apr 2007, 01:57 PM
Sunderland -- 1st, 42 GP, +24 GD, 79 points
v.
QPR -- 18th, 42 GP, -12 GD, 49 points
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14 April 2007 15:00
Stadium of Light
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Rangers News:
Tough one for the R's as we visit the table-topping Black Cats.
Ainsworth is now out for the season, joining Rowlands and Bircham, among others, on the sideline. The BBC pre-match report indicates that both Lee Cook and Michael Mancienne "should return" but that Inigo Idiakez is likely to miss out.
The Opponent:
Dean Whitehead is expected to return to the starting lineup in place of Dwight Yorke.
Sunderland is in exceptional form. They haven't lost since being knocked out of the FA Cup by Preston on January 6th and haven't lost in the league since December 30th against Preston.
Since their last league loss, they have 12 wins and 4 draws! Two of those draws were at home (Stoke and Palace) and the R's would have to be very pleased to head back south with a point.
The Series:
On November 28th, QPR lost at home to Sunderland, 1-2. Ray Jones pulled one back for the R's in the 73rd after Sunderland took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Overall, the series is even, 10-6-10 with the R's holding a 10-6-9 lead in league play.
Before this season, the last time the teams met was in 04/05 in the Championship with Sunderland winning at Loftus Road but Rangers getting a point at the Stadium of Light.
QPR's last wins in the series came in a sweep during 1990/91 in the old Division One. Since then, Sunderland has 4 wins and there have been 3 draws.
The Relegation Battle:
The good news is that everyone can't gain on us tomorrow because several struggling teams will face off (Leeds v. Burnley, Southend v. Barnsley).
The bottom 3rd of the table and Saturday's matchups:
17 Burnley 41 2 51 - at Leeds
18 QPR 42 -12 49 - at Sunderland
19 Leicester 41 -12 47 - v. Norwich
20 Hull 42 -16 44 - v. Colchester
21 Barnsley 42 -28 44 - at Southend
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22 Leeds 42 -24 42 - v. Burnley
23 Southend 42 -25 42 - v. Barnsley
24 Luton 42 -23 37 - v. Plymouth
v.
QPR -- 18th, 42 GP, -12 GD, 49 points
------
14 April 2007 15:00
Stadium of Light
------
Rangers News:
Tough one for the R's as we visit the table-topping Black Cats.
Ainsworth is now out for the season, joining Rowlands and Bircham, among others, on the sideline. The BBC pre-match report indicates that both Lee Cook and Michael Mancienne "should return" but that Inigo Idiakez is likely to miss out.
The Opponent:
Dean Whitehead is expected to return to the starting lineup in place of Dwight Yorke.
Sunderland is in exceptional form. They haven't lost since being knocked out of the FA Cup by Preston on January 6th and haven't lost in the league since December 30th against Preston.
Since their last league loss, they have 12 wins and 4 draws! Two of those draws were at home (Stoke and Palace) and the R's would have to be very pleased to head back south with a point.
The Series:
On November 28th, QPR lost at home to Sunderland, 1-2. Ray Jones pulled one back for the R's in the 73rd after Sunderland took a 2-0 lead into the break.
Overall, the series is even, 10-6-10 with the R's holding a 10-6-9 lead in league play.
Before this season, the last time the teams met was in 04/05 in the Championship with Sunderland winning at Loftus Road but Rangers getting a point at the Stadium of Light.
QPR's last wins in the series came in a sweep during 1990/91 in the old Division One. Since then, Sunderland has 4 wins and there have been 3 draws.
The Relegation Battle:
The good news is that everyone can't gain on us tomorrow because several struggling teams will face off (Leeds v. Burnley, Southend v. Barnsley).
The bottom 3rd of the table and Saturday's matchups:
17 Burnley 41 2 51 - at Leeds
18 QPR 42 -12 49 - at Sunderland
19 Leicester 41 -12 47 - v. Norwich
20 Hull 42 -16 44 - v. Colchester
21 Barnsley 42 -28 44 - at Southend
------
22 Leeds 42 -24 42 - v. Burnley
23 Southend 42 -25 42 - v. Barnsley
24 Luton 42 -23 37 - v. Plymouth