QPR 1st in Division 2 LDV First Round -- defeated Kidderminster Harriers 2-0 at home LDV Second Round -- defeated Dagenham & Redbridge 2-1 at home Brighton & Hove Albion 3rd in Division 2 LDV First Round -- defeated Forest Green 2-0 at home LDV Second Round -- defeated Boston United 3-1 at home ------ 7 December 2003, 13:00 Loftus Road ------ Rangers News: Gino Padula is suspended. I supposed it's due to card accumulation in League play, since he hasn't been carded in the LDV. Richard Edghill will likely start at left back. It's a bit lucky if he gets to miss an LDV match rather than a D2 match for cards picked up in D2. Pretty much everyone is healthy at the moment, with Matthew Rose featuring for 55 minutes in a reserve match, so even he could end up on the bench. Furlong and Pacquette picked up reds in that reserve match, but their suspensions won't have kicked in yet. An article reproduced at the link below makes some guesses about the lineup. It says Sabin will likely get another start and Furlong will likely start (although I wonder if his upcoming 3-match ban will affect that). They also think Bircham will stay on the bench, while McLeod will return to the starting lineup with Rowlands starting on the right. Of course, if that's true, where does Sabin start (assuming a Bean/Palmer pairing in the center of midfield if Bircham sits)? Up top? With no mid-week matches, I'm guessing he'll pick a fairly full starting lineup, with guys with minor injuries (Bircham?) likely to sit. http://www.queensparkrangersfc.com/papers0412.htm The Opponent: Brighton dealt QPR one of only two league losses thus far this season, defeating a 10-man R's squad 2-1 at the Withdean Stadium in the second week of the season. The thread from that match can be found here: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=66473 The Seagulls have won their last two league matches (2-1 at Notts County and 2-0 at home against Wrexham) to move into third in the table, just four points behind QPR. The Series: After Brighton's win earlier this season, the series is now even with 27 QPR wins, 13 draws, and 27 Brighton wins (the clubs are 1-0-1 in FA Cup play with the rest coming in the league). The Referee: Phil Joslin gets the whistle. He's issued 46 yellows and 3 reds in 16 matches this season (4 D1, 4 D2, 3 D2, 1 FAC, 2 LC, 2 LDV). He worked the middle in QPR's 2-0 League Cup win at Sheffield United. Kevin, can you tell us anything about how he was in that match? He booked four players -- two of theirs plus McLeod and Bircham. Last year, he worked our 2-1 home win against Blackpool. LDV Vans Trophy info: The winner will go into the Area Semi-Final draw which will take place on 13 December. The Area Semi-Final is still a single match and will take place during the week beginning 19 January. The Area Final is a two-legged affair, before a one-match Trophy Final in Cardiff. The South Area Quarter-Final matchups are: QPR v. Brighton, Southend United v. Luton Town, Wycombe Wanderers v. Colchester United, and Northampton Town v. Peterborough United.
Honestly, can't remember anything about the officiating from that night - just how good we were. But, I guess thats a good sign that Mr Joslin didnt stand out that much.
Thanks, Kevin. --- More news about this weekend's match: Bircham - doubtful with ankle injury (saw specialist this week) Bean - likely available despite sore foot Rose - probably too soon Furlong - chances of recall hurt by red card (this makes sense to me -- I figured he'd start, so that he could regain match fitness, but what's the point if he'll then turn around and miss three games?) Brighton will miss midfielder John Piercy due to a red-card ban. http://www.ananova.com/sport/story/sm_844494.html I wonder if Day will start or if Culkin will get his third LDV start. I'd guess the back will be Forbes-Shittu-Carlisle-Edghill. With a week between matches on both ends, and Padula already missing, I doubt Barton will get a run out. The midfield might be Rowlands-Bean-Palmer-McLeod, but Ainsworth and Sabin will want in. I'm guessing Sabin might get a start because Olly has mentioned him once or twice as being hard done by not being able to get into the squad. If Bean's foot isn't 100%, maybe they'll go: --------Palmer---------- Sabin---------McLeod -------Rowlands-------- with Ainsworth and maybe Bean on the bench. Or will Sabin start up front, allowing Gallen or Thorpe a rest? Will Furlong get a start despite the red card? This weekend's lineup could definitely go many different ways. At 10 pounds for adults and 5 for juniors/seniors/students for all seats, I'd hope we get a decent atmosphere at Loftus Road on Sunday.
From reports it sounds like Sabin was terrible at Swindon. Perhaps his last chance for a bit? In this lineup I'd think a guy who's not playing well wouldn't sniff the field.
You're probably right. The Holloway quote I was thinking of likely came after either the Plymouth or Brentford match. As you point out, Sabin since got (and seemingly didn't take advantage of) his chance against Swindon.
Good match at Loftus Road on Sunday. We were much the better squad in the first half and did enough to get the job done in the second. Palmer scored for the second week in a row and Thorpe's goal was a beauty (nicely chipped over the keeper)! 7,536 in attendance -- pretty good. The Lower Loft, South Africa Road, and both Paddocks were pretty much completely full (I couldn't see the Upper Loft from my Lower Loft seat). Brighton brought a bunch, too, filling up the bottom of the School End and having a nice little number of them up top too. Holloway is talking like he wants to win this tournament -- and why not? The remainder of the south teams are Colchester United, Southend United, and Northampton Town. No disrespect to them, but that's something we should hope to be able to do. The draw for the area Semi-Final is on Saturday. Colchester is having a good season, but we should be able to take them -- especially if we were to meet them in the two-legged Area Final. Luton Town was knocked out by Southend (meaning they couldn't advance to the LDV Final causing us to have no match on 27/28 March), so I'm thinking of planning a trip for the March 27/28 weekend. We'll either have a Luton Town home game in the league or the LDV Final in Cardiff -- either would make a good weekend.
The LDV Vans Trophy Draw: Southern Section Semi-Finals Southend United v. QPR Northampton Town v. Colchester United Colchester is the best of the future opponents in the South. If we can get a win at Southend, it'll be a two-legged series with the Northampton/Colchester winner for the right to go to Cardiff. Northern Section Semi-Finals Sheffield Wednesday v. Scunthorpe United Blackpool v. Halifax Town/Lincoln City winner Halifax/Lincoln is being played today (was postponed due to fog last week). Semi-Finals will take place on January 20/21. http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/today/view/breaking_news_detail/0,,10794~463361,00.html