HomeFeatured ArticlesWest Ham vs QPR Preview | Key Men, Stats & Team News

West Ham vs QPR Preview | Key Men, Stats & Team News

Harry Redknapp takes a disjointed QPR side to Upton Park on Sunday searching for the second win of a campaign that has so far gone poorly, while opposing number Sam Allardyce will be looking to carry some of the strong form the Irons displayed on their last two outings, against Liverpool and Manchester United, into this fixture and notch up their third win of the season.

whamvsqprfix

Previous Encounter

The two teams last met in January 2013, with Joe Cole and Loic Remy scoring for either side in a 1-1 draw.

Team News

West Ham will be without Andy Carroll, Joey O’Brien and Cheikhou Kouyate for this match, while Matt Jarvis and Mark Noble may return from their spells on the sidelines. QPR will look forward to the return of Sandro, while they’re still missing Jordan Mutch and Adel Taarabt in addition to long-term absentees Joey Barton, Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Faulin.

Interesting Facts

  • QPR have only managed 4 goals in their 6 games so far, the second worst in the League behind Burnley (1). They have the worst goal difference coming into this game though, with 13 goals conceded for a GD of -9.
  • Harry Redknapp has now met three of his former employers in the first six matches, having previously travelled to White Hart Lane and St. Mary’s.
  • QPR’s last victory at Upton Park came 21 years ago, in August of 1993.
  • Stewart Downing already has more assists this season than he did the last time around, so he’ll be hoping to continue his form against a creaky QPR backline.
  • Summer signing Diafra Sakho is West Ham’s leading league goalscorer, with three in three starts.
  • Head-to-head: WHU:21 QPR:19 D:19

Key Men

West Ham United – Stewart Downing

Stewart Downing has enjoyed an electrifying start to the season, notching up 1 goal and 3 assists in his 6 games so far, including a Man of the Match performance against Liverpool that saw the Irons crush the Reds 3-1 in a surprisingly one-sided encounter. Sam Allardyce will rely on Downing’s service into the box to Valencia and Sakho up front, and his link-up play with Noble and Zarate will be crucial to breaking down Redknapp’s experienced defence.

QPR – Harry Redknapp

It’s hard to look past the manager when trying to find someone to blame for the Rangers’ dismal start to the campaign. The former Tottenham boss doesn’t look too sure of what his best XI is, beginning the campaign with a 3-5-2 and then using a flat back four in a 4-3-3 in their last outing against Southampton. His summer signings haven’t clicked into place as of yet, and it’ll be up to the manager to try and turn things around in what is a very winnable game for them. QPR face Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City in 3 of their next 4 games, so getting a result from this game is vital if they want to avoid an early relegation scrap.

Betting Preview

Fancy Diafra Sakho to continue his fine goalscoring form against a past-it Rio Ferdinand and an ineffective QPR defense. Take a punt with TailorBet and get Sakho to score @ 3.00.

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Possible Lineups

West Ham: 4-3-3: Adrian – Jenkinson,Tomkins,Reid,Cresswell – Song,Amalfitano,Nolan – Downing,Sakho,Valencia

QPR: 4-5-1: Green – Traore,Ferdinand,Caulker,Isla – Phillips,Fer,Kranjcar,Sandro,Vargas – Austin

Prediction

QPR are in a shambles at the moment but West Ham look to be hitting their stride at just the right time of the season; the Rangers’ 21-year wait for a win at Upton Park looks set to go on a little longer.

West Ham United 2-0 QPR

Vinay Rao
Vinay Rao
An engineering student who loves stats, football and Netflix dramas, I'll be a writing person here in the summer. Tweet at me @vinayr93
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