Atouk
17 Aug 2007, 10:08 PM
QPR -- 11th - 1 GP, 1 Point, 0 GD -- last year 18th
v.
Cardiff City -- 20th - 1 GP, 0 Points, -1 GD -- last year 13th
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18 August 2007 15:00
Loftus Road
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Rangers News:
Gregory told the official site (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Preview/0,,10373~1092680,00.html) that Blackstock and Nardiello will return to the starting lineup. In addition, he said John Curtis and Damion Stewart will return after being rested. Hogan Ephraim is again available after he wasn't allowed to play in the Carling Cup match. Chris Barker will serve the final game in a three-match ban earned playing for Colchester last season.
The Opponent:
Cardiff opened the league season at home with a 0-1 loss to Stoke City. They hosted and defeated Brighton 1-0 after extra time in the Carling Cup during the week. Cardiff will host Orient in the next round. They finished 5 positions and 11 points ahead of QPR last season.
Cardiff lost Michael Chopra in the summer and has added a cast of aging stars including Robbie Fowler, former QPR midfielder Trevor Sinclair, former Rangers and Dundee midfielder Gavin Rae, and now Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Fowler is not yet fit and won't feature against QPR, Hasselbaink signed this week and will join his new teammates on Monday, while Sinclair and Rae are both likely to play. Midfielder Riccardo Scimeca and striker Steve Thompson are out.
This week, "Cardiff City's main financial backers have initiated legal proceedings against the club over claims they have not repaid more than £30m in debts." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6946893.stm) Cardiff chairman Peter Risdale said "The statements released by Hextalls LLP seem to be an ill-informed mixture of fiction and general confusion." Cardiff Counsel indicated this wouldn't impact the development of Cardiff's new ground. Risdale said (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6948498.stm) that this money, which includes £24m previously borrowed plus interest, isn't due until 2016.
The Series:
QPR leads the series 29-10-22 with a 23-9-20 lead in league play. QPR won both meetings last year, 1-0, including a win at Ninian Park when the Bluebirds were at the top of the table (and on Sky, too!).
Two of my 24 live QPR games have been against Cardiff -- the hearbreaking loss in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, 0-1 after extra time was the first; I got a measure of revenge in seeing the R's win 1-0 at Loftus Road in the Championship two years later after we'd achieved promition in the year in between. Big Dan Shittu got the goal in that one! :)
Since that loss in the play-off final, the R's have 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss against Cardiff.
v.
Cardiff City -- 20th - 1 GP, 0 Points, -1 GD -- last year 13th
------
18 August 2007 15:00
Loftus Road
------
Rangers News:
Gregory told the official site (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Preview/0,,10373~1092680,00.html) that Blackstock and Nardiello will return to the starting lineup. In addition, he said John Curtis and Damion Stewart will return after being rested. Hogan Ephraim is again available after he wasn't allowed to play in the Carling Cup match. Chris Barker will serve the final game in a three-match ban earned playing for Colchester last season.
The Opponent:
Cardiff opened the league season at home with a 0-1 loss to Stoke City. They hosted and defeated Brighton 1-0 after extra time in the Carling Cup during the week. Cardiff will host Orient in the next round. They finished 5 positions and 11 points ahead of QPR last season.
Cardiff lost Michael Chopra in the summer and has added a cast of aging stars including Robbie Fowler, former QPR midfielder Trevor Sinclair, former Rangers and Dundee midfielder Gavin Rae, and now Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Fowler is not yet fit and won't feature against QPR, Hasselbaink signed this week and will join his new teammates on Monday, while Sinclair and Rae are both likely to play. Midfielder Riccardo Scimeca and striker Steve Thompson are out.
This week, "Cardiff City's main financial backers have initiated legal proceedings against the club over claims they have not repaid more than £30m in debts." (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6946893.stm) Cardiff chairman Peter Risdale said "The statements released by Hextalls LLP seem to be an ill-informed mixture of fiction and general confusion." Cardiff Counsel indicated this wouldn't impact the development of Cardiff's new ground. Risdale said (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/6948498.stm) that this money, which includes £24m previously borrowed plus interest, isn't due until 2016.
The Series:
QPR leads the series 29-10-22 with a 23-9-20 lead in league play. QPR won both meetings last year, 1-0, including a win at Ninian Park when the Bluebirds were at the top of the table (and on Sky, too!).
Two of my 24 live QPR games have been against Cardiff -- the hearbreaking loss in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium, 0-1 after extra time was the first; I got a measure of revenge in seeing the R's win 1-0 at Loftus Road in the Championship two years later after we'd achieved promition in the year in between. Big Dan Shittu got the goal in that one! :)
Since that loss in the play-off final, the R's have 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss against Cardiff.