Setting The Scene
Wanderers will be looking to pick up their first league victory of the calendar year when they travel to the capital to face Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday evening.
With the Whites having been in cup action against Cardiff City on Saturday, the Loftus Road outfit enjoyed the luxury of a free weekend having bowed out of the cup in the third round earlier this month.
Dougie Freedman’s side however will be hoping to avenge Rangers' victory at the Reebok earlier this season, where Andy Johnson’s second half strike ensured that Harry Redknapp’s side would return home with all three points.
Team News
Wanderers have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash, with Jermaine Beckford the only notable absentee from the matchday squad as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained against Nottingham Forest.
Craig Davies could feature having played the full game against Cardiff at the weekend, while Stuart Holden, Joe Riley and Marc Tierney continue their respective comebacks from injury.
Opposition Camp
Flying high in second place in the Championship league standings at present, the opening months of the current campaign have certainly been impressive for Queens Park Rangers.
Having fallen out of the top flight after just two seasons back in May, the London outfit strengthened their squad during the summer months with the acquisition of experienced figures such as Karl Henry and Richard Dunne along with highly rated frontman Charlie Austin.
Redknapp’s decision to bring in such players has undoubtedly been vindicated, with QPR having lost just four league games all season and entering Tuesday’s game on the back of three straight victories against Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town and Doncaster Rovers.
It has been on their home turf however where the team have been at their best, winning ten of the 13 games so far at Loftus Road and conceding just five goals in the process.
The only team to have left West London with maximum points this term have been league leaders Leicester City, while Swindon Town secured a 2-0 victory in the Capital One Cup earlier this term.
A fixture which may be considered a daunting one given the R’s fine form this season, Wanderers will no doubt be keen to ruffle a few feathers and secure a fifth victory on their travels to help them climb up the league table.
One To Watch
Originally deemed to be too small to be a footballer, striker Charlie Austin has certainly silenced his critics during an impressive career to date.
Still just 24 years of age, the frontman was released by Reading as a teenager after the club decided that his build wasn’t one suited to the professional game.
Despite his set-back, Austin joined his local side Kintbury Rangers before enjoying spells with Poole Town and Hungerford Town whilst working as a bricklayer.
His exploits in particular for Poole – 48 goals in 42 appearances – ensured that he was picked up by Swindon Town in the summer of 2009 where he went on to average more than a goal every two games.
A revelation at the County Ground, Austin was scouted by Championship outfit Burnley, with the Clarets securing the youngster’s signature ahead of a pack of other suitors.
His time at Turf Moor was to yield one of the most prolific spells of the striker’s career, with him finishing as leading goalscorer in both seasons with the club.
His efforts didn’t go unnoticed, with QPR bringing Austin to Loftus Road in the summer of 2013 – a move which has undoubtedly been vindicated with his 14 goals so far this term.
Wanderers will be looking to pick up their first league victory of the calendar year when they travel to the capital to face Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday evening.
With the Whites having been in cup action against Cardiff City on Saturday, the Loftus Road outfit enjoyed the luxury of a free weekend having bowed out of the cup in the third round earlier this month.
Dougie Freedman’s side however will be hoping to avenge Rangers' victory at the Reebok earlier this season, where Andy Johnson’s second half strike ensured that Harry Redknapp’s side would return home with all three points.
Team News
Wanderers have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash, with Jermaine Beckford the only notable absentee from the matchday squad as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained against Nottingham Forest.
Craig Davies could feature having played the full game against Cardiff at the weekend, while Stuart Holden, Joe Riley and Marc Tierney continue their respective comebacks from injury.
Opposition Camp
Flying high in second place in the Championship league standings at present, the opening months of the current campaign have certainly been impressive for Queens Park Rangers.
Having fallen out of the top flight after just two seasons back in May, the London outfit strengthened their squad during the summer months with the acquisition of experienced figures such as Karl Henry and Richard Dunne along with highly rated frontman Charlie Austin.
Redknapp’s decision to bring in such players has undoubtedly been vindicated, with QPR having lost just four league games all season and entering Tuesday’s game on the back of three straight victories against Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town and Doncaster Rovers.
It has been on their home turf however where the team have been at their best, winning ten of the 13 games so far at Loftus Road and conceding just five goals in the process.
The only team to have left West London with maximum points this term have been league leaders Leicester City, while Swindon Town secured a 2-0 victory in the Capital One Cup earlier this term.
A fixture which may be considered a daunting one given the R’s fine form this season, Wanderers will no doubt be keen to ruffle a few feathers and secure a fifth victory on their travels to help them climb up the league table.
One To Watch
Originally deemed to be too small to be a footballer, striker Charlie Austin has certainly silenced his critics during an impressive career to date.
Still just 24 years of age, the frontman was released by Reading as a teenager after the club decided that his build wasn’t one suited to the professional game.
Despite his set-back, Austin joined his local side Kintbury Rangers before enjoying spells with Poole Town and Hungerford Town whilst working as a bricklayer.
His exploits in particular for Poole – 48 goals in 42 appearances – ensured that he was picked up by Swindon Town in the summer of 2009 where he went on to average more than a goal every two games.
A revelation at the County Ground, Austin was scouted by Championship outfit Burnley, with the Clarets securing the youngster’s signature ahead of a pack of other suitors.
His time at Turf Moor was to yield one of the most prolific spells of the striker’s career, with him finishing as leading goalscorer in both seasons with the club.
His efforts didn’t go unnoticed, with QPR bringing Austin to Loftus Road in the summer of 2013 – a move which has undoubtedly been vindicated with his 14 goals so far this term.
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