Birmingham Match Thread

[LoftusRoadLad]

Mark Warburton is expecting Scotland hero Lyndon Dykes to be ready for Saturday’s visit from Birmingham City.

The QPR striker has not played for the Hoops since helping his adopted national team take a step closer to Euro 2021 qualification.

The Australian-born target-man moved to QPR from Livingston in the summer and scored two in his first two games for the club.

He has also found the target against the Czech Republic and Slovakia so far this season and will be a key part of the side which goes to Serbia next month, one win away from a first tournament qualification in 22 years.

Since then he has missed the draw with Bournemouth and defeat to Preston on Wednesday night with a thigh problem.

However, Warburton is now optimistic the 25-year-old will be able to play his first club game since the start of the month.

“I hope very much, we will have to wait and see,” Warburton said. “I am not giving my team away, I wanted Preston to prepare for Lyndon Dykes but I hope very much he is available for the weekend.”

Warburton will also consider handing a start to Aitor Karanka’s former Middlesbrough player, Albert Adomah who was bright off the bench in midweek.

But QPR will definitely be without midfielder Luke Amos who suffered an ACL injury against Bournemouth last weekend.

[LoftusRoadLad]

My team

____________________Seny___________________

Osman________Rob__________Yoann_______Nico

Bright_________Ilias__________Chris_______Albert

____________Macauley_______Lyndon__________

Too attacking maybe

[Rebel R's]

This is a mini league must win game for us,especially after wednesday nights performance.
I'd like to predict we will win but think it will be a 1-1 draw

[72bus]

We may not see dykes til after the scotland game , hope I'm wrong . Can't see us picking up a win without him

[LoftusRoadLad]

MARK Warburton wants QPR to display the same levels of urgency and intensity that they did against AFC Bournemouth when they host Birmingham City on Saturday (3pm BST kick-off).

The R’s impressed on the south coast last weekend – picking up a more-than-deserved point against the Cherries – but then fell to a disappointing defeat at home to Preston North End in midweek.

And Warburton says it is vital that his players rediscover those levels in what is a very busy set of matches

It really is this manic period now where you have a game every three days or so,” he told www.qpr.co.uk. “You can’t feel sorry for yourself and you have to move on very quickly.

“You have to recognise what you did wrong; how you can improve and how you can learn. If you’re sloppy in your preparation or your body language is negative, you’ll pay the price in future games in this league.

“Birmingham are a very well organised team and it’s going to be important that we keep on moving the ball, keep on working them.

“Norwich [who Birmingham played on Tuesday] had to be very patient against them, so we know that it is going to be a tough afternoon.

“We have to do our jobs and we have to do them with a real intensity and urgency. If we do that then we are a good team, as we showed against Bournemouth.”

Birmingham, like the R’s, have picked up six points from their opening six matches of the new Sky Bet Championship season.

Their one victory of the campaign thus far came against Brentford on the opening day and, since then, they have only scored two more goals in the league but have also been very strong defensively.

Warburton said: “Aitor will set his team up to be well organised. You look at George Friend and Harlee Dean – who is someone I know well – Scott Hogan at the other end of the field is a potent finisher.

“They have a good, talented squad and they will be very hard to breakdown and will always pose a threat on the counterattack. We have to be resilient in our own box and make sure we pose an attacking threat ourselves.

“We weren’t ruthless against Preston; Macca was a little bit isolated and we didn’t get bodies around him. We have to make sure that on Saturday we are far more potent in front of goal.”

Rangers have been without Lyndon Dykes for the last two matches after he returned from international duty with a slight injury. The manager revealed that he could be back in the squad at the weekend.

He said: “Lyndon is out on the grass working hard and I hope very much that he will be available for the weekend"

[QPRDave]

Another pointless display....0-2
Oh just seen Scott Hogan playing ....0-4

[Jeffqpr]

Another pointless display....0-2
Oh just seen Scott Hogan playing ....0-4

Oh come on Dave lighten up, we can’t play as bad as that again like we did Wednesday, have faith

[QPRDave]

[Stainrod]

I just hope he picks a positive team that can muster a shot on target , can’t be as bad as Preston again can it ?

[lincoln ranger]

I just hope he picks a positive team that can muster a shot on target , can’t be as bad as Preston again can it ?

Ha ha famous last words! He is stubborn, don’t be surprised if he plays same X1, formation and tactics

[Abseits]

Last Saturday there was hardly a home win in Championship. I'm beginning to think being at home is actually a handicap, not an advantage. Whatever, we cannot be as turgid as Wednesday night again - that was shocking and frankly unacceptable.

[Jeffqpr]

No advantage with no crowds

[LoftusRoadLad]

Its possible that we could rest BOS, Chair and Cameron for this one. Rotation and all that.

[LoftusRoadLad]

Good entertaining match this was.

[LoftusRoadLad]

Games won:	22
Games drawn:	16
Games lost:	23