chrissivad
Staff
- May 20, 2005
- 51,646
- 58,072
- Staff
- #1
Banner by Evolution
QPR Vs Tottenham
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Loftus Road Date: Saturday, 21 April
For more on live coverage please visit Geez's Live Media Thread
[float_right]
[/float_right]
Queens Park Rangers will be looking to claim another big scalp at home to boost their survival hopes and increase the pressure on a Tottenham side struggling to fulfil their promise.
Mark Hughes' men were regarded as one of the favourites for relegation going into the run-in due to the daunting fixture list they had to contend with in the final few weeks of the season, and they remain in deep trouble just a couple of points above the drop zone.
However, Hughes identified his team's remaining games at Loftus Road as pivotal to their chances of staying up and he has been rewarded with three straight home victories.
Those successes, against Liverpool, Arsenaland Swansea, have fuelled belief that QPR can retain their top-flight status and they will go into their latest clash with confidence.
The same cannot be said of their opponents, with a disappointing run of form leaving Spurs in danger of missing out on a place in the top four.
A record of one win in eight games has eroded Tottenham's advantage in the race for third and left them in a four-way battle for two spots along with Arsenal, Newcastle and Chelsea.
Harry Redknapp's side currently occupy fourth place, level on points with Newcastle and two ahead of Chelsea, but even that may not be good enough at the end of the season as the Blues can qualify for the UEFA Champions League by winning the European competition this term.
Spurs were hammered 5-1 by Chelsea in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at Wembley last weekend and must bounce back quickly to ensure their good work from earlier in the season does not unravel completely.
Team news
QPR will be boosted for the visit of Tottenham by Djibril Cisse's return from a four-match suspension.
The French striker was hit with the lengthy ban after being sent off against Sunderland - the second red card he had received since joining the club in January - and Hughes will be demanding discipline from all his players ahead of what promises to be a competitive London derby.
Shaun Wright-Phillips will also be pushing for a recall, but Alejandro Faurlin and Kieron Dyer remain on the sidelines due to injury.
Tottenham also have a number of long-term absentees, including Tom Huddlestone and Michael Dawson, while Redknapp has confirmed that midfielder Niko Kranjcar will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury he suffered in training last week.
The manager will now have to decide whether to freshen up his side after the FA Cup heartache against Chelsea.
Carlo Cudicini was a surprise starter in the FA Cup tie and will surely make way for first-choice keeper Brad Friedel, but otherwise Redknapp fielded a virtually full-strength starting XI at Wembley.
Jermain Defoe and Sandro are among those who could be considered for recalls as Redknapp looks to turn around his team's flagging fortunes.
[float_right]
[/float_right]
QPR's Djibril Cisse is available for selection again after a four-match ban.
Fellow striker Heidar Helguson could start, having made his return last week after three months out injured.
Tottenham will again be without the injured pair of Younes Kaboul and Niko Kranjcar, and manager Harry Redknapp has a number of other injury concerns.
Brad Friedel returns to the side after missing the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea and will make his 300th consecutive Premier League appearance.
[float_right]
This London derby could turn out to be a hugely pivotal fixture at both ends of the Premier League. The two clubs go into the weekend fourth top and fourth bottom respectively and each would be delighted if that was still the case on the night of 13 May.
I witnessed the corresponding fixture at White Hart Lane at the end of October where Spurs played some fantastic football and ran out comfortable 3-1 winners. After that match they were four points behind Manchester United with a game in hand and talk of the title was top of the agenda.
That was still the case towards the end of January before their loss at the Etihad Stadium to Manchester City. Had they won that day they would have been only two points behind joint leaders City and United.
The harsh facts are, though, that they've won just two of the following 11 Premier League matches. It is a run similar to 12 months ago, when they fell away with only three victories from their last 12 games and finished six points off a Champions League place.
Any kind of repeat would feel like a failure after some of their performances this season. Their target after last weekend's semi-final defeat is now clear and this is the first of three remaining away games against teams in the bottom six.
Queens Park Rangers will probably feel they have to win this one, given they have the worst away record in the division and their two remaining trips are to Chelsea and then Manchester City on the final day. Three wins from their last six have kept their survival hopes alive, and with Stoke still to come to Loftus Road they will have targeted six points from their remaining two home games.
They are bidding for a fourth home win in a row and if they find the spirit and performance levels that produced victories over Liverpool and Arsenal, they could make it an uncomfortable evening for Harry Redknapp and his team.
For both teams it is a time to stand up and be counted; this one won't be for the faint hearted.
Head-to-head
- Tottenham's only win in four trips to QPR in the Premier League was on their last visit in September 1995, when a brace from Teddy Sheringham and one from Jason Dozzell helped Spurs to a 3-2 win.
- Their most famous meeting came in the 1982 FA Cup final when Tottenham triumphed 1-0 in a replay after the first match had ended 1-1.
- This is their 49th meeting. Tottenham have won 19 times, QPR 13 and there have been 16 draws.
Queens Park Rangers
- Rangers have alternated between an away loss and a home win in their last seven games.
- They are attempting to win four top-flight home matches in a row for the first time since December 1994.
- Mark Hughes' side have received seven red cards this season - only four teams have ever been shown more in a 38-match Premier League campaign.
- Spurs have won just one of their last eight Premier League games. Only Wolves (one point) have picked up fewer points than Spurs (six).
- They are without a victory in their last seven league away games since beating Norwich on 27 December. If they fail to score at Loftus Road they will equal their Premier League record of four successive away matches without a goal.
- Brad Friedel will be making his 300th consecutive Premier League appearance. The last games he missed were the last two matches of the 2003-04 season for Blackburn (against Tottenham and Birmingham). Since then he has been an ever-present for Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham.
