QPR -- 6th, 18 GP, 9-3-6, +5 GD, 30 points v. Wigan Athletic -- 1st, 18 GP, 11-6-1, +22 GD, 39 points ------ 13 November 15:00 Loftus Road ------ Rangers News: With high demand and a smallish contingent coming down from Wigan, QPR has opened the upper tier of the School End to Rangers fans. Gareth Ainsworth is ready to step into the side after coming on as a sub in the last game. Tony Thorpe, who came off, is out for six weeks. With Thorpe out, Jamie Cureton is likely to partner Paul Furlong up front. Marcus Bignot returns from suspension, so it'll be interesting to see if Frankie Simek keeps a place or if Olly goes with a Rose, Santos, Shittu, Bignot back line. Marc Bircham will be serving his suspension. With Marcus Bean likely to take Birch's spot and Martin Rowlands out for a good bit longer, a Cook, Bircham, Bean, Ainsworth midfield seems likely. The Opponent: Wigan comes off of their first league loss of the season. Otherwise, they've won 11 and drawn 6. Their last six (most recent first): H Plymouth L, 0-2 A Stoke W, 1-0 A Leeds W, 2-0 H Coventry W, 4-1 H Crewe W, 4-1 A Plymouth W, 2-1 The Series: The clubs have only met four times, when both were in Division Two in 01/02 and 02/03. The series is even 1-2-1, with the R's winning the first game at Wigan and drawing at home in 01/02, while the teams drew at Wigan in October '02 and Wigan beat the R's at Loftus Road in March '03. The Referee: Barry Knight gets the call. Six of his eight games this season have been in the Premiership (1 Championship, 1 League Cup). He's issued 5 yellow cards and 0 reds. Last season, he worked our 1-1 away draw at Swindon. In 01/02, he worked two 0-0 games at Loftus Road, vs. Reading and Brighton.
BBC match preview Manchester Evening News match preview Sporting Life match preview Telegraph: Jewell aims to crown rise of Wigan Scotsman: Holloway targets vulnerable Latics Evening Standard: Holloway insists QPR is here to stay
Us Latics look to be without our 2 inform players McCulloch and Ellington. Ellington is desperate to play as he loves playing against Holloway
As a wise nuclear engineer once said : WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Paul Furlong grabbed his 11th goal of the season as QPR saw off Championship leaders Wigan at Loftus Road.