QPR -- 11th in Championship last season v. Blackpool -- 16th in the Championhip last season ------ 8 August 2009 15:00 Loftus Road ------ Sky match preview BBC match preview ("Of the 15 ex-Premier League clubs in the Championship, Rangers have now been outside the top division the longest. They were relegated in 1996.") ("If selected, defender Damion Stewart will be making his 150th club career start.") Blackpool Gazette match preview Rangers News: The season begins! Jim Magilton makes his debut as QPR manager. We're fairly healthy -- Leigertwood returned to training this week, as did Buzsaky and Connolly, who missed the Southampton game. Faurlin and Cook are unavailable, but the remainder of the squad appears to be available for selection. The Opponent: Blackpool finished just 5 points behind QPR last season, their second back in the Championship. R's legend Ian Holloway took over as manager after last season. Blackpool knocked off Everton in their final pre-season game. Former R Danny Nardiello is in the squad. The Series: The R's lead the series with 13 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses. The clubs first met in 1967/68 and this will be only the 10th season in which they have played in the same division. In league play, it's QPR 11 wins, Blackpool 3 wins, and 4 draws. The R's have 2 wins and 3 draws against the Seasiders in cup play. The R's won 4 points off Blackpool last season while the home side won both meetings in 07/08. Last Season: The R's won 3-0 at Blackpool in January behind goals by Helguson (2) and Ephraim. Last September, the teams drew 1-1 at Loftus Road with Blackstock scoring in the 79th to earn a point for the R's.
I know I've asked this before. But is the season starting earlier than in the past? I always thought the season started around Aug. 20th or so.
With Ollie at Blackpool, the post match quotes should be interesting this time. We should get a links page set up for his quotes this season.
Just took a look back on the official site. Looks like it's been about the same for awhile. First game 08/09 -- August 9 First game 07/08 -- August 11 First game 06/07 -- August 5 First game 05/06 -- August 6 First game 04/05 -- August 7 First game 03/04 -- August 9 First game 02/03 -- August 10 First game 01/02 -- August 11
Turning 40 must have turned my brain to mush Prepare for me to ask this same question again early next August
And following a very nice minute's applause for Bobby Robson, the League season is underway in Middlesbrough (v Sheffield United). Match is available on BBC Five Live
QPR: Cerny; Ramage, Gorkss, Hall, Borrowdale; Routledge, Mahon, Rowlands, Taarabt; Helguson, Balanta. Subs: Putnins, Stewart, Vine, Buzsaky, Agyemang, Connolly, Ephraim. Blackpool: Rachubka, Crainey, Southern, Evatt, Burgess, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher, Baptiste, Euell, Edwards, Adam. Subs: Gilks, Eardley, Clarke, Ormerod, Martin, Nardiello, Demontagnac It's a belated QPR debut for Borrowdale.
We've had all of the possession for the first dozen or so minutes. Blackpool just had their first moment in the QPR box, but Gorkss cleared it.
Shots on target, QPR 4-0 Shots off target, QPR 2-0 Corners, QPR 4-0 Posession, QPR 57-43 Fouls, Blackpool 4-0
Halftime. QPR 0, Blackpool 1. Norwich 0, Colchester 5 at the half at Carrow Road. Wow. That's not the way you want to start (at home!) in a lower division after getting relegated to the third tier for the first time since the 1960's!
Holy smokes As for our R's...Makes the fans happier to come from behind for our first win than to just completely dismantle a team