HomeFeatured ArticlesQPR vs West Brom Preview | Team News, Key Men and Stats

QPR vs West Brom Preview | Team News, Key Men and Stats

West Brom travel to London on Saturday after their much needed win against Aston Villa, to face a QPR side who have struggled this season but have been great at home in recent weeks. Both will see each other as rivals within the bottom half of the table and essentially results in these types of games that will prove crucial come the end of the season.

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QPR go into the game having won the same amount of games as West Brom but due to losing three more games, they sit in 18th place. Their last game out saw them beaten on Monday night away to Everton but it’s their home form that they will take confidence from in the last few weeks. Harry Redknapp’s men have gone four games unbeaten at home, winning three of them and drawing the other to champions Man City. The games they did win were against teams in and around the bottom half of the table, including fellow promoted teams Leicester and Burnley, which is exactly what you want as a team in QPR’s position. Taking full advantage of your home games is what will help keep you in the division and QPR will look to build on that against West Brom.

The Baggies will be relieved to gain three points in their last game after going five games without a win, gaining only 1 point out of a possible 15.They have only managed two goals in their last six but the solitary strike from Craig Gardner was enough in the Midlands derby against Aston Villa. Alan Irvine’s men have beaten both Leicester and Spurs away from home but a win at Loftus Road will start a busy period off in style.

Team News

QPR

Charlie Austin is likely to be recalled to the starting eleven after missing the loss against Everton due to suspension. Steven Caulker is a doubt however, after suffering from head injury that kept him out of the last game. Adel Taarabt is struggling with a groin problem and both Faurlin and Sandro will be out of action indefinitely.

West Brom

Victor Anichebe (groin) and Chris Brunt (hamstring) are rated 50/50 for the trip to Loftus Road. Jonas Olsson will not be available until mid January with an Achilles problem but Samaras could be recalled to the match day squad after illness.

Interesting Facts

  • QPR have won just one of their last six home games against the Baggies in all competitions (W1 D2 L3).
  • West Brom have won the last three Barclays Premier League matches against QPR.
  • All 14 of Queens Park Rangers’ points in the Premier League this season have come at Loftus Road.
  • West Brom have won eight points from seven games away from home in the Premier League this season, despite only scoring three goals in these games.
  • Austin has been involved in 59% of QPR’s league goals this season, more than any other player for their team in the Premier League
  • Saido Berahino has now failed to score in his last seven appearances in a row after scoring seven goals in his first nine games of the season.
  • West Brom have won just five of their 47 Premier League games away in London (D13 L29).

Recent Head to Heads

2012/2013       Tue 15 Jan      West Brom.     0 – 1     Q.P.R.             F.A. Cup

2012/2013       Sat 05 Jan       Q.P.R.             1 – 1     West Brom.     F.A. Cup

2012/2013       Wed 26 Dec    Q.P.R.             1 – 2     West Brom.

2012/2013       Sat 06 Oct       West Brom.     3 – 2     Q.P.R.

2011/2012       Sat 14 Apr       West Brom.     1 – 0     Q.P.R.

2011/2012       Sat 03 Dec      Q.P.R.             1 – 1     West Brom.

Key Players

QPR: Charlie Austin

As one of the bottom sides in the league, Queens Park Rangers will need player who they can rely on to get crucial goals to help them to get out of the relegation battle, and they seem to have that in Charlie Austin. After missing QPR’s last match against Everton as he was serving a one match suspension, he will want to pick up his form from where he left off with six goals in his last seven appearances. With eight goals this season, he is not just QPR’s top scorer this season but he is also the top scoring Englishmen in the Premier League and is only 6 goals off top scorer Sergio Aguero.  He has shown that he is a very clinical striker who has the ability to score with both feet and his head with a conversion rate of 24.2%.

West Brom: Saido Berahino

After being used as a substitute in their last two games, Saido Berahino will look to get back his place in the side and prove why he deserves to be playing regularly. The young English forward got off to a great start to the season with seven goals in his first nine appearances but has struggled for form of late and is without a goal in his last seven appearances in the Premier League. He is the second top scoring Englishmen only one goal behind his QPR counterpart Charlie Austin. Although he offers different qualities to Austin as he is more of a technically gifted striker who can cause havoc to defenders with his pace and ability which is shown in the amount of successful dribbles he has had with 50% of his 26 dribbles being successful.

Prediction

QPR’s home form has been excellent so far so I can only see the match heading one way, but I won’t be surprise if West Brome cause an upset either considering their unpredictable nature this season

My Prediction – QPR 2-1 West Brom

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