Match Thread | Fulham 2 QPR 1

[LoftusRoadLad]

QPR MUST MAKE SURE TO CAPITALISE ON FULHAM SUSPENSION THIS FRIDAY: COMMENT

QPR face Fulham on Friday night, in what is set to be a cracking game of football under the lights at Craven Cottage.

Mark Warburton is in charge of the R’s and he’s done a terrific job with the side so far this season as they sit in the top half of the table after the first 16 games of the new campaign.

They actually had a very good start to the season and were flying until a recent run of results has seen the side drop out of the play-off places.

On Friday, it’s another tough game for the R’s as they travel to Fulham but there is reason to be optimistic due to a suspension to Scott Parker’s side.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is the current top scorer of the Championship and he has been absolutely sensational so far this season. However, he’s suspended for the fixture because he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the away victory at Birmingham before the international break.

It’s a huge loss for the Cottagers but a massive gain for QPR as they still look for their first clean sheet of the campaign after a remarkable start without any. They now have a brilliant chance to record one away from home, as Mitrovic has scored 50% of Fulham’s goals so far this season.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/qpr-must-make-sure-to-capitalise-on-fulham-suspension-this-friday-comment/

[LoftusRoadLad]

Head to Head

https://www.11v11.com/teams/queens-park-rangers/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Fulham/

Games won:	14
Games drawn:	7
Games lost:	16

[rodman]

Our record against Fulham is pretty poor.
Only 2 wins in the last 14 meetings over the last 20 years.

[LoftusRoadLad]

Mark Warburton has urged that expectations be kept realistic for his QPR side this season as they get ready for another derby game with local rivals Fulham.

The R's sit 10th in the Championship as they head to Craven Cottage on Friday evening, having picked up a 2-2 draw at home to Middlesbrough before the international break.

Scott Parker's Fulham, meanwhile, are two points above Rangers in seventh and beat Birmingham 1-0 in their last game.

Warburton believes his side should be in a higher league position based on their performances this season but does not want expectations to get carried away.

"It's all about expectations being realistic," he said after the draw with Middlesbrough.

"We want to finish as high as we possibly can. We should be higher but you look at a couple of recent things.

"I said to the players before the game (against Middlesbrough), one point out of nine looks like a poor run of form and then we get the feedback from two very, very harsh decisions in the Reading and Brentford games which adds on three or four points to their total.

"There's no lack of ambition or desire but the frustrating thing for me is that one minute you're the pundits' favourite for relegation and now it's 'why are you not in the play-off places?'

"We're human and we're a team that's evolving and developing and we're 16 games in and we're doing alright.

"We've got to keep expectations very, very positive, very real and I hope very much the supporters can see how much hard work is being done by the players.

"I'm very proud of what they've done so far. We've had a good start, we've dropped some silly points but we're right in the mix."

Defenders Yoann Barbet and Toni Leistner will be hoping they can recover from their respective injuries in time for the game.

Liam Kelly also missed out against Middlesbrough with a grade one muscle injury, which normally take around two or three weeks to recover from.

The Cottagers were dealt a huge blow in their last contest when the league's top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will serve his one-game suspension against Rangers.

https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/sport/football/queens-park-rangers/qpr-manager-mark-warburton-urges-expectations-realistic-rangers-prepare-take-on-rivals-fulham-1-6387037

[Mem]

No Barbet or Cameron. We look light at the back again

[72bus]

No barbet it Cameron ok . So what they're hardly van Dyke and Trent AA time for players to step up

[Mem]

No barbet it Cameron ok . So what they're hardly van Dyke and Trent AA time for players to step up

Que?

[LoftusRoadLad]

No Barbet or Cameron. We look light at the back again

Cams banned but we have good replacements

[LoftusRoadLad]

Nahki Wells, Jan Mlakar, Ebere Eze and Matt Smith have all been away with their countries but are now back at Harlington and preparing for the upcoming west London derby.

“Some of the boys have been away on international duty and you run the risk of injury and fatigue, but they are all back now, safe and sound thankfully, but you always have that fear as a manager,” Warburton said.

“The break in fixtures gave us a chance to recharge before going into what we know is a really demanding period.

“This now defines the Championship, after the third international break through to the next one in March.

“It is full on, it’s a relentless demand for the players and we have to make sure we get the loading right.”

The Cottagers have picked up 14 points from their last eight games to move to within touching distance of the top six.

Sitting just two points and one spot outside the playoffs, Fulham are in good form – and they are a team that have the respect of Warburton.

“Everyone knows they are a very talented squad,” he said

“Yes, they are missing Mitrovic (suspended) so we presume it will be Reid or Kamara to come in. You look at Knockaert, Cavaleiro, Cairney, Johansen, they are a very, very talented team.

“Given time and space they will hurt any opponent. What we have to do is deny them what they want and make sure we impose ourselves on the game because we have the quality as well.

“We respect them but it’s about QPR, it has to be. It has to be about what we do really well. We will have to challenge ourselves but I am looking forward to a really good fixture.”

Geoff Cameron misses the game owing to a one-match suspension following five bookings, while the fixture with Fulham has come too soon for Yoann Barbet.

[Mem]

Cams banned but we have good replacements

Only if Toni is available otherwise who else?

[Ronnie Rangers]

No barbet it Cameron ok . So what they're hardly van Dyke and Trent AA time for players to step up

Wish we had Dick van Dyke, we may lose but the singing and Dancing would have us out of our seats!!

[MYU]

I really hate SKY games, we have to win this game to keep up with the rest.

Tickets were sold out really fast.

[dave58]

another London derby on sky here comes another drubbing, butI hope not

[Joe90]

Mitrovic is out, but I still don't feel confident. Could be another night to forget.

Our defense is shat, doesn't matter how we re-jig it.

Midfield is a big concern. Eze will need to step up and if Scowen plays, as tenacious as he is, he just can't cope with the demanding roll he has. We've got goals in us, but it all hinges on the battle in midfield.

[QPR Rickson]

Another bottle job performance live on sky v a rival when it matters most. Sick of witnessing it.