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QPR
QPR
1 vs 0
Played
May 6, 2012 2:00 PM BST
Loftus Road Stadium — London
Referee:‬ A. Marriner‎
Attendance:‬ 17319‎
 
89′ Djibril Cissé
 

QPR - Stoke City Preview: Mark Hughes' men must win in battle to avoid drop, while Potters boast just one win in nine

After four consecutive home victories, the relegation-threatened Hoops will look to secure all three points against Tony Pulis' side, whose away form this season has been poor

By Sean Kilgallon

More On :  QPR, Stoke City, M. Hughes, Tony Pulis, QPR vs Stoke City
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

QPR

Kenny
Onuoha, Ferdinand, Hill, Taiwo
Mackie, Derry, Barton, Taarabt
Cisse, Zamora
STOKE CITY

Sorensen
Huth, Shawcross, Upson, Wilson
Walters, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington
Crouch, Jones

Adel Taarabt has given QPR boss Mark Hughes a selection dilemma with his return from suspension, whilst Djibril Cisse looks set to partner Bobby Zamora upfront in a fairly attack-minded formation as the Hoops look to take maximum points from Stoke City to improve their survival chances with two Premier League matches remaining.

Samba Diakite will hope for a recall after missing the defeat at Chelsea through illness - positive news for Hughes, who has no fresh injury worries ahead of Sunday's crucial game.

Stoke on the other hand look set to be without Jermaine Pennant (hamstring) and Andy Wilkinson (groin) whilst Rory Delap (back) is likely to miss the clash at Loftus Road. Cameron Jerome will be hoping to play from the start after his equaliser against Everton last Tuesday, although Tony Pulis may go for the height and presence of Kenwyne Jones and Peter Crouch.

Manager Tony Pulis has confirmed that Thomas Sorensen will replace Asmir Begovic in goal, in order to aid the Dane's Euro 2012 preparation.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • QPR have won their last four Premier League matches at Loftus Road and are unbeaten in five.
  • The last time that the Rs won five home games in a row was in 1987.
  • Mark Hughes' men have not conceded a goal in either of their previous two games.
  • The Rs have received a league high of eight red cards this season.
  • Stoke City have won only one of their last nine Premier League matches.
  • Tony Pulis' men have registered just 11 goals away from the Britannia Stadium this season, the lowest in the league.
  • The Potters have scored a league-high 59 per cent of their goals from set-pieces.
  • Stoke have had fewer shots on target than any other Premier League side, with just 87.
  • Robert Huth could make his 100th Stoke City appearance.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • QPR 2-0 Stoke City
    20.17 %
  • QPR 2-1 Stoke City
    19.33 %
  • QPR 1-0 Stoke City
    6.72 %
Head to Head
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 20 Apr 2013 QPR 0 - Stoke City 2
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 10 Nov 2012 Stoke City 1 - QPR 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 6 May 2012 QPR 1 - Stoke City 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 19 Nov 2011 Stoke City 2 - QPR 3
  • Player Ratings
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Last Five Matches
QPR
19 May 2013Liverpool 1 - QPR 0EPL
12 May 2013QPR 1 - Newcastle United 2EPL
4 May 2013QPR 0 - Arsenal FC 1EPL
28 Apr 2013Reading 0 - QPR 0EPL
20 Apr 2013QPR 0 - Stoke City 2EPL
Stoke City
19 May 2013Southampton 1 - Stoke City 1EPL
12 May 2013Stoke City 1 - Tottenham 2EPL
6 May 2013Sunderland 1 - Stoke City 1EPL
27 Apr 2013Stoke City 1 - Norwich City 0EPL
20 Apr 2013QPR 0 - Stoke City 2EPL
Odds
Returns: QPR £50.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £37.50 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Stoke City £120.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
1Paddy KennyGoalkeeper
6Clint HillDefender
3Taye TaiwoDefender
35Anton FerdinandDefender
15Nedum OnuohaDefender
4Shaun DerryMidfielder
10Adel TaarabtMidfielder
14A. BuzsakyMidfielder
17Joey BartonMidfielder
12Jamie MackieStriker
25B. ZamoraStriker
24Radek CernyGoalkeeper
5Fitz HallDefender
6Danny GabbidonDefender
3Armand TraoréDefender
11Shaun Wright-PhillipsMidfielder
14Jay BothroydStriker
9Djibril CisséStriker
29Thomas SørensenGoalkeeper
4Robert HuthDefender
12Marc WilsonDefender
17Ryan ShawcrossDefender
35Matthew UpsonDefender
6Glenn WhelanMidfielder
24Rory DelapMidfielder
10Ricardo FullerStriker
19Jonathan WaltersStriker
25Peter CrouchStriker
33Cameron JeromeStriker
1Asmir BegovicGoalkeeper
30Ryan ShottonDefender
8Jonathan WoodgateDefender
18Dean WhiteheadMidfielder
26Matthew EtheringtonMidfielder
8W. PalaciosMidfielder
9Kenwyne JonesStriker
Players to Watch
B. Zamora
B. Zamora
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 25
Games Goals YC RC
21 4 1 1
The striker hasn't hit the ground running since his January move from west London rivals Fulham, scoring only twice in 12 matches. Zamora's last goal came in the 1-1 draw with Everton, way back on March 3.

Now at the tail end of the season, QPR fans will be hoping that the England international can hit some sort of belated form and help secure the Hoops' Premier League status.
Matthew Etherington
Matthew Etherington
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 26
Games Goals YC RC
31 0 3 0
The midfielder has enjoyed some of the best football of his career since his move from West Ham United three years ago, making over 100 appearances for the Potters.

With Pulis expected to select Kenwyne Jones to partner Peter Crouch, Etherington will look to assist his team- mates as best he can with a supply of crosses from the wing. A firm fans' favourite at Stoke, he will look to attack Nedum Onuoha at every opportunity.
Prediction
Sunday's Premier League clash throws up a dramatic contrasts. QPR, who are in such a rich vein of form at Loftus Road on the back of four consecutive home wins, will look to pick up three points against a Stoke City side who have managed only one win from their last nine fixtures.

The Hoops will hope to consolidate their Premier League status with a vital win on home turf, whilst Stoke, following their European excursions this season, may have one eye on the end of the season on the eve of their 58th game of this campaign.

I expect the game to be a fairly open affair, with QPR going for the win and Stoke more than capable of hitting Mark Hughes' men on the counter-attack. The west London side will be desperate for a win as they fight relegation and with their last game of the season away at Manchester City, QPR fans will realistically view Sunday's game as a pivotal moment in their season.
Editor's Prediction
QPR 2
Stoke City 2
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Manchester United 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0

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