QPR v. Blackpool (11 March: Championship Match 38) [R]

[QPR Kevin H]

More midweek action in this busy period of fixtures.

QPR v Blackpool
20:00 UK
Loftus Road

Note to those of us in the States: Our clocks went forward before they did in the UK, so tonight's kickoff is at 4:00 pm Eastern Time. Also, it's a little later a kickoff than usual for a midweek home fixture - 8pm UK.

http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10373,00.html

Table finds the Tangerines three spots above the Rs with the same amount of matches played.

http://www.4thegame.com/statistics/championship/tables/currentform.html

The Form Table has Blackpool 8th, losing only one of their last 6 matches. The Rs have only won one in that same period. The Tangerines are coming off two straight home draws (Barnsley and Southampton).

Here's the official site preview...

http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Preview/0,,10373~1261688,00.html

Wins against promotion contenders Burnley and Charlton Athletic since the turn of the year provided brief hope of a play-off push, but Grayson isn't about to get too carried away.

"We are still looking over our shoulders," he said recently.

"At the start of the season our target was to stay in this league and that remains the case.

"We're playing well, but all we can do is try to kick on from here."

The arrival of experienced hit-man Paul Dickov in the January transfer window only served to reiterate Blackpool's footing at this level.

The former Manchester City ace, who is out contract in the summer, bagged five goals in as many games last month and was named the Professional Footballer's Association Championship player of the month.

On the Rs side, only team news I know of at the moment is that Hogan Ephraim will be suspended following his red card at Sheffield Wednesday.

[ross from st paul]

More midweek action in this busy period of fixtures.

QPR v Blackpool
20:00 UK
Loftus Road

Note to those of us in the States: Our clocks went forward before they did in the UK, so tonight's kickoff is at 4:00 pm Eastern Time. Also, it's a little later a kickoff than usual for a midweek home fixture - 8pm UK.

So, you mean 3:00 Real Time, then. ;)

I wonder why the later kickoff? Most of the other Championship matches are 7:45.
I'd ask if it were due to television coverage, but since I couldn't watch it anyway, I won't.
Luckily, I got in late today, so I will still be here in time to check the final score before heading home. :p

Let's go RRRRRRRRR'S!!!!!!

[QPR Kevin H]

So, you mean 3:00 Real Time, then. ;)

I wonder why the later kickoff? Most of the other Championship matches are 7:45.
I'd ask if it were due to television coverage, but since I couldn't watch it anyway, I won't.
Luckily, I got in late today, so I will still be here in time to check the final score before heading home. :p

Let's go RRRRRRRRR'S!!!!!!
Yeah right - like you don't actually live on EST like all Central time people. You just do everything an hour earlier :)

I'm not sure about the kickoff - sometimes these things are determined by the police. But there are no other major games nearby tonight - or is it Brentford's 7:45 kickoff? Or perhaps the owners just want things to be a little more continental with a later kickoff?

[ross from st paul]

Yeah right - like you don't actually live on EST like all Central time people. You just do everything an hour earlier :)
Actually, I'm a morning person...so I do everything TWO hours earlier than you lazy bastards. 11:00 news? I can't stay up that late! :p

I'm not sure about the kickoff - sometimes these things are determined by the police. But there are no other major games nearby tonight - or is it Brentford's 7:45 kickoff? Or perhaps the owners just want things to be a little more continental with a later kickoff?
Oh, excellent point. I hadn't thought of anything logistical like that.

Geez, I frequently forget how much more closely packed, and how many more teams, England has.
Like a D.C. home match would delay kickoff due to traffic to a MN Thunder game? :D

[Atouk]

I'm not sure about the kickoff - sometimes these things are determined by the police. But there are no other major games nearby tonight - or is it Brentford's 7:45 kickoff? Or perhaps the owners just want things to be a little more continental with a later kickoff? :)

We had several 8 p.m. kickoffs last season and I think I read on other message boards that those were based on the wishes of the police. Not sure what their thinking is, but I think it's their call.

[QPR Kevin H]

Tonight's fixture list from the Championship...

Barnsley v Ipswich 19.45
Bristol City v Watford 19.45
Burnley v Charlton 19.45
Colchester v Sheff Wed 19.45
Norwich v Stoke 19.45
Preston v Wolverhampton 19.45
QPR v Blackpool 20.00
Scunthorpe v Plymouth 19.30
Sheff Utd v Coventry 19.45
Southampton v Leicester 19.45

Lot of match-ups between teams close to each other in the table.

[QPR Kevin H]

Here are the teams - Fitz Hall back in, Stewart out

QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mancienne, Blackstock, Buzsaky, Rowlands, Connolly, Agyemang, Vine, Hall, Leigertwood.

Subs: Pickens, Mahon, Lee, Rehman, Balanta.

Blackpool: Rachubka, Crainey, Southern, Evatt, McPhee, Morrell, Hoolahan, Taylor-Fletcher, Gorkss, Barker, Flynn.

Subs: Coid, Parker, Fox, Welsh, Burgess.

[Atouk]

EvattHe sure didn't cut it for us. It's funny how certain guys "click" in some places and don't in others.

[QPR Kevin H]

He sure didn't cut it for us. It's funny how certain guys "click" in some places and don't in others.
Here's what Evatt had to say about that...

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpool-football-club/Evatt-You-can39t-buy-team.3863565.jp

"QPR will be tough but there is no reason why we can't get a positive result, add another point or three to our tally and edge ourselves closer to safety."

Boss Simon Grayson is expected to make changes after the lacklustre draw against Southampton on Saturday.

Evatt won't be one of those to miss out – and after being confined to the bench for the reverse fixture with QPR in December because of injury, the defender is eager to show his old club what he can do.

"I wasn't treated the best by QPR," he said. "The club was in a bit of a mess at the time – although thankfully now it is turning around for them – and I am really looking forward to going back there, especially after missing the first game against them.

"What makes it better is that I know I'm going back as part of a very good team.

"We are flying at the moment, we are playing well and that's why we should be confident about getting a good result.

"I might get a bit of stick from their fans but it will be all welcome and hopefully we will go there, turn them over and get the three points."

Just one of the many faces to come and go in the last couple seasons.

[QPR Kevin H]

Goal in the relegation zone...

Colchester 1 (Kevin Lisbie 4) Sheff Wed 0

[MetroAnt]

This just in from the strange coincidences department: I stopped my itunes player in the middle of "Living for the Weekend" by Hard-Fi to turn on the commentary and what is playing at Loftus Road? Living for the Weekend!

This can only be a good sign for the game.

[QPR Kevin H]

Teams are running out

Come on Rs!!!

[QPR Kevin H]

This just in from the strange coincidences department: I stopped my itunes player in the middle of "Living for the Weekend" by Hard-Fi to turn on the commentary and what is playing at Loftus Road? Living for the Weekend!

This can only be a good sign for the game.
I'm taking that as a good sign too. Better than Wednesday playing two Clash songs and Hey Jude the other day. Bastards!

[ross from st paul]

I'm taking that as a good sign too. Better than Wednesday playing two Clash songs ... the other day. Bastards!

That pissed me off no end.

And it looks like Wednesday have equalized.

[QPR Kevin H]

Goal - Colchester 1 Sheff Wed 1 (Deon Burton 18)
Goal - Barnsley 0 Ipswich 1 (Pablo Counago 20)

[Atouk]

Goal! Agyemang to Buzsaky!!! UUURRRRs!

[QPR Kevin H]

Its in!!!!

Buzsaky - 1 nil Rs!!!!

[QPR Kevin H]

Barnsley 1 (Brian Howard 27) Ipswich 1

[QPR Kevin H]

Colchester 1 Sheff Wed 2 (Wade Small 44)

[QPR Kevin H]

Blackpool sounding better in the last few minutes. Earned a corner - Lee Camp snags it.