STEW'S PREVIEWS
QPR v MIDDLESBROUGH
Stewart Flaherty, 5 Dec 2009
BORO EYE VIEW
With great adversity comes great opportunity and this is very apt regarding Boro's situation going
into this game.
The adversity comes in the form of a free scoring QPR side that is high in
confidence and oozing with belief, having scored four goals in three consecutive spells
during an October stretch. QPR have had 14 different players on the scoresheet this
year and currently lie fifth in the table.
The opportunity comes in the form of Boro
having the chance to achieve their first win over a team in the current top six. It would be a win
that woud breathe new life into the promotion campaign and give the squad a much
needed injection of confidence with some tough games to come during December.
However, to come away from West London with points will be no easy task.
Column Continues Below...
QPR EYE VIEW
The Hoops are currently in the play-off spots and having scored 20 goals in nine games at home, they are one of the Division's highest scoring teams.
These ominous words came from
Coventry manager Chris Coleman after QPR's last game:
"For 20 minutes or so in the
second half, QPR put on the best performance I have seen from a side in this
division.
"We could not get near them and at times were hanging on. They were
excellent."
They will know that a Boro win would see them leap-frogged in the table and they
will be looking to press home advantage against a team that has been
vulnerable when it comes to conceding goals of late.
HEAD TO HEAD
Goalkeepers
Boro - Brad Jones is an athletic shot stopper but has yet to show himself to be a truly
top class keeper, even at Championship level. He is capable of good games but
appears to lack consistency.
QPR - Czech stopper Radek Cerny has previous experience with Tottenham and Slavia
Prague. He produced a solid season last year, with 47 starts, as QPR achieved one of
the League's better defensive records.
Edge: QPR. Cerny is a consistently high level keeper.
Boro Defence v QPR Attack
Boro - Sean St Ledger is statistically one of the League's better defenders this season. The Actim Index, which is the official statistical analysis system used by the League, has
him rated at number five.
However, Wheater and him are not the solid unit that Huth and Wheater
appeared to be, and Boro are making a habit of conceding goals and letting leads
slip.
Pogatetz brings the experience to the back line but whether his best
position is left-back is an ongoing debate.
Rhys Williams could cement himself in the right-back position going forward.
QPR - The leading scorer for QPR is the outstanding young talent Jay Simpson, who is
on loan from Arsenal. Simpson has frightening pace and has bagged eight goals in 14
starts so far this season. This video shows why many believe that Simpson is set for stardom at Premier League level.
In recent games, former Crystal Palace winger Wayne Routledge has been partnering
Simpson in attack. After bouncing around the Premier League - having recent spells
with Aston Villa, Tottenham, Fulham and Portsmouth - Routledge appears to have found
a home at Loftus Road and has seven goals this season.
Edge: QPR. They have a very fast and talented pair of forwards who could give the Boro
backline a very tough afternoon's work.
Midfield
Boro - Boro will hope that Gary O'Neil can return from injury quick enough to resume his
partnership with Isaiah Osbourne. Julio Arca deputised at Peterborough in a
defensively shaky performance.
Adam Johnson will remain on the left and the right
midfield spot appears to be an area that could be targeted for an upgrade in
January. Mark Yeates could play or the return of O'Neil could put Arca back out there.
QPR - The Rangers midfield is highly dangerous and has an outstanding production
level in terms of goals scored.
As well as the pacey strikers, it is this unit that
makes the team a real attacking threat that is difficult to handle.
Hungarian
international Akos Buszaky has scored seven goals from his wide midfield position this
season.
On the other wing, Moroccan international Adel Taarabt has scored four goals
and has inspired one of the more classic terrace chants of all time!
To the tune of
Status Quo's 'Rockin' All Over The World':
"A here we go a here we go a here we go
Adel's better than Juninho
Here we gooooo
Moroccan all over the world"
The Rangers' engine room comprises of experienced battler Gavin Mahon, and one time
Boro target Ben Watson, who is on loan from Wigan and has scored twice so far this
season.
Rangers also recently acquired Republic of Ireland international Steven
Reid on loan from Premier League Blackburn, further enhancing their quality in this
department.
Edge: QPR. A free scoring unit with a good mix of quality and experience.
Boro Attack v QPR Defence
Boro - Dave Kitson produced a very welcome brace at Peterborough and could be the
man whose goals help Boro produce a run of form. His previous history with Leroy
Lita appears to put them in pole position as the strike partnership, and the two of
them show a good blend of athleticism, size and pace.
QPR - After reading the last two sections, you could be forgiven for asking yourself why
QPR are not in the top two!
The answer lies with their defence.
Much like
Middlesbrough, they have some talented individuals but do not show themselves to be
a consistently solid unit.
In fact, the angry words of manager Jim Magilton
regarding the two goals that were conceded in their recent draw with Coventry may ring very
familiar bells in the ears of some Boro fans:
"On another day, we would have gone on to win the game quite comfortably. Both goals
were woeful.
"We've had two Saturdays now when the goals have been an absolute joke.
I'm extremely disappointed. We didn't defend at set-pieces and I'm angry about
that. If you're marking someone then you need to take responsibility.
"For the
second goal, the keeper should have done better.
"I'm angry because performance-wise,
we were very good with the ball. We were confident, extremely bright and passed it
well.
"But you also have to take responsibility and defend for your lives. That
didn't happen. We fell asleep at set-pieces.
"It's very much a work-in-progress but
I won't tolerate the goals that we're conceding. We're very much disappointed that
we haven't won a home game today."
The back-line on the end of that rant included young former Arsenal centre-back
Matthew Connolly, who was personally singled out by Magilton for poor marking.
Connolly is joined at centre-back by the outstandingly named 'one size' Fitz Hall,
who has a lot of Premier League experience from his spells with Wigan and Crystal
Palace. Hall is a towering presence and Boro will be thankful for the physical
presence of Kitson in this match-up.
Mikele Leigertwood, Latvian international
Kaspars Gorkss and former England Under-21 international Gary Borrowdale complete
the backline.
Edge: Boro. Boro are finally showing signs of having a stable and high scoring front
pair. QPR appear to be dogged by many of the problems that have plagued Boro over
recent games.
Fans
Boro - Boro Supporters South will ensure a healthy following from the Red Army and
the fan base will hope for an evasive win to inject some feel good factor into the
club.
QPR - The West Londoners have enjoyed some free flowing and high scoring football
this season. This, coupled with the fact that QPR are purportedly richer on paper
than Chelsea, should ensure a healthy and optimistic following looking for a home
win.
Edge: QPR. A loud and confident home crowd will make a difficult road trip
tougher.
Prediction
QPR win - A confident and high scoring team should be just too difficult for Boro's
backline to cope with. Any point gained from this fixture will be well-earned by
Boro.
