Stoke v QPR - Match Preview

QPR travel to Stoke this weekend in search of their first away win in nearly a calendar year. Ironically, their last away victory was against Stoke under Neil Warnock, where R's legend Heider Helguson scored a brace and led the line heroically that day. Sadly, the R's last win in the Premier League was also against Stoke back in May, where a last minute Djibril Cisse goal proved to be the difference. Times are tough on the road for Rangers and it will take a massive turnaround if they are to get three points tomorrow.

The problem is QPR aren't playing like a team at the moment but their opponents Stoke, whatever you think of them, do. They play as a well-drilled unit where everyone knows their respective jobs and in turn this helps them grind out enough points year on year to survive in the league. I hate to say it but QPR could learn a lot from Stoke, especially defensively.

We all know Stoke are one of the most physical sides in the league and will give any defence a thorough examination. At this moment in time, our defence is struggling to deal with basic set-pieces and we're conceding many sloppy goals. Stoke are not the type of side that our defence will want to face right now. In Rory Delap's absence, new signing Geoff Cameron has taken up the long-throw responsibility to great effect. Every throw will feel like a corner and if we continue to allow attackers free headers from these positions, we will find ourselves in real trouble tomorrow.

I hope Mark Hughes and his men have worked very hard on set plays this week. I also hope our defence will concentrate for ninety minutes and know exactly what their individual jobs are this time round. Stoke are not just a set-piece side though. They play with great width and have effective wingers in Michael Kightly and Matty Etherington, who always look to get to the byline and get a cross in for Peter Crouch, who in my opinion is one of the best strikers in the league.

QPR 1 (Cisse)
Reading 1 (Gorkss)

Team: Cesar, Traore (Onuoha), Ferdinand, Nelsen, Bosingwa, Diakite, Taarabt, Granero, Cisse, Mackie (Zamora), Hoilett.

Norwich 1 (Johnson)
Stoke 0

Team: Begovic, Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Wilkinson (Whelan), Nzonzi, Adam, Whitehead, Kightly (Etherington), Walters (Jones), Crouch.

Rory Delap is out with a hernia injury. Michael Owen has injured his hamstring and will miss the game. Marc Wilson is a long term absentee with a broken leg.

Possible line up:

Ryan Shawcross has been identified as the player to watch ahead of tomorrow's match against Stoke.

For Vital QPR's comprehensive review of the defenderClick Here >>>

QPR will wait on Park Ji-Sung's fitness after he missed last weekend's draw with Reading. Stephane M'Bia is suspended, while Fabio and Andrew Johnson are out.

Possible line up: