QPR v Derby Preview
Posted on | March 23, 2010 | No Comments
Both of these sides were tipped to compete in the top half, if not the playoffs, during the summer. However, both have endured disaster seasons and with QPR sat in 17th and Derby one place lower, it’s fair to say that the threat of relegation still looms for Neil Warnock and Nigel Clough.
Nobody really expected a quiet season for QPR and the hierarchy at Loftus Road have failed to disappoint by delivering another hugely turbulent season. Managers have come and gone and Neil Warnock is the latest man in the hot seat as he tries to revive the club’s fortunes. As it stands they are sat on forty five points which puts them six ahead of the relegation zone. With nine games remaining you’d think that they would be in a position to comfortably stay up, although obviously there is still some work to be done. Since Warnock’s arrival there has been a marked improvement and the R’s have just lost the one game since he took over. Their run in from now looks quite straight forward so you’d have to assume that their main aim is to rebuild and hopefully push on for the next campaign.
Derby on the other hand are one game and one point worse off. While the Rams don’t possess a vast budget like QPR, they were expected to fare reasonably well and maybe even make a push for the top six. Many of the Derby faithful were confident that in Nigel Clough they have a promising young manager who will bring them success. They simply haven’t performed though and like QPR, their main aim should be to just collect enough points to stay in the division. They’ve notched just the one victory in their last seven and Clough must be slightly worried about his future when the summer arises.
On the team news front, QPR have been handed two boosts in relation to Damion Stewart and Jay Simpson. Stewart will be back in the reckoning after serving a one match ban while Simpson has now recovered from a hamstring problem and is back in contention. It’s fairly quiet for the visitors as well and Nigel Clough has no new injury concerns. Clough’s only real headache surrounds Robbie Savage, who was rested at the weekend but will now be pushing for a starting place.
The stats suggest that this is a tough one for QPR, who have failed to beat Derby at Loftus Road in 28 years of trying. On the flip side, Derby’s form on the road is not too spectacular and the Rams are without an away win in their last six. Bearing these facts in mind we’re going to take the easy route and predict a draw – 1-1.
Related posts:
- Doncaster v Derby Preview
- Derby v Southampton Preview
- Championship Preview – Derby
- Derby v Nottingham Forest Preview
- Cardiff v Derby Preview
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