Middlesbrough Official Site
Team News Match Pack: QPR THE two teams will meet for the 35th time in the league, with QPR having slightly the better record with 12 wins compared to Boro's 10, leaving 12 draws.
Boro did the double over QPR last season for the first time ever. Last December's comprehensive 5-1 win, their first ever at Loftus Road, was followed by a 2-0 victory for Gordon Strachan's side at the Riverside in late February.
Middlesbrough were the last side to play QPR before Neil Warnock took over. He'd been appointed but didn't take charge of the team until after their 2-0 defeat at the Riverside in March.
Not only has Warnock never lost at home to Middlesbrough, he has won every home game his teams have played against them - for Notts County, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace in the league, and County again in the 1991 play-offs.
He's the 21st manager QPR have had in 21 years and only three have stayed longer than a year.
Middlesbrough's eight defeats at Loftus Road include a 6-1, a 5-0, three by four goals and one by three. Two of them, the 5-0 in 1998 and 4-0 in 1966, came in seasons when they were promoted. They've conceded an average of more than two goals a game there and scored exactly one a game.
Last season's win was Gordon Strachan's first as Middlesbrough manager and took the team to sixth, still their highest position since he took over. But they lost their next three matches and failed to score in any of them.
If selected, Mickael Tavares will be the 26th player used this season and the 21st in the league alone.
In contrast, 10 QPR players have started every game this season.
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Injuries and suspensions
Gary O'Neil has returned to training following a knee injury, which is being continually assessed.
Kris Boyd has a sore hip and Barry Robson a sore thigh after midweek international duty, but both should be fit.
Kevin Thomson is hoping to be back sooner than the expected two months out following a fractured fibula sustained at Leicester City earlier this season.
Jonathan Franks (back), Willo Flood (knee) and Rhys Williams (pelvis) are all long-term absentees who remain on the sidelines.
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Guide to the opposition
Queen's Park Rangers finished 13th in the Championship last season in a turbulent year for the club that saw four managers in charge at Loftus Road inside three months.
Neil Warnock took over in March last season and after a summer moulding his squad, has taken the the Rs to top spot with an unbeaten record, 10 points from four games.
Warnock has been named npower Manager of the Month for August and while Adel Taarabt, below, is Player of the Month.
Rangers yesterday took experienced Portsmouth striker Tommy Smith on loan until January when the deal is expected to become permanent. Hemel Hempstead born Smith, 30, was most successful in two spells with his local side Watford, but has also played for Sunderland and Derby.
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The Form Book
Nine goals and three clean sheets in their opening three games saw QPR make the early running in this season's Championship.
Their 100% record was brought to an end in their 2-2 draw with Derby County just before the international break. Up until the 89th minute in that game it looked as though their unbeaten start would also go, as they trailed 2-0 at Pride Park.
Boro have just four points from their opening four games following two defeats sandwiched either side of a draw and a win.
QPR are yet to concede a goal at Loftus Road in the league this season, while Boro are yet to score a Championship goal away from the Riverside.
Including the end of last season, it is now six hours since Boro last scored an away league goal.
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Last time out
February 27 2010
Middlesbrough 2 (Robson 39 (pen), 45 (pen))
Queen's Park Rangers 0
Two penalties in seven minutes towards the end of the first half were enough as Boro completed their first ever double over QPR.
Middlesbrough: Coyne, Naughton, Wheater, McManus, Pogatetz (Taylor 78), Flood, O'Neil (Capt), Robson, Aliadiere (Franks 66), Lita (Arca 83), Killen. Subs: Jones (gk); Hoyte, Grounds, Miller.
QPR: Ikeme; Ramage, Stewart, Leigertwood, Hill (Borrowdale 53), Gorkss, Buzsaky, Faurlin (Taarabt 69), Cook, Simpson, German (Bent 53). Subs: Cerny (gk); Ephraim, Vine, Balanta.
Referee: Andy Woolmer, Northamptonshire.
Bookings
Boro: Killen, 71, foul.
QPR: Gorkss, 45+1, foul.
Attendance: 17,568 (523 QPR)
Conditions: Sunny, still and cool at kick-off
Website Man of the Match: Barry Robson
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Referee
Mick Russell, Hertfordshire.
Six games this season have seen just eight yellow and one red card from Mr Russell. Two of his games have been cardless and another brought just one card.
He's only been in charge for one previous Boro game, Gordon Strachan's first as manager, a 1-0 home defeat against Plymouth on October 31.
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Weather
A bright and dry day is forecast with temperatures reaching 18 degrees. A 12mph south-westerly wind is expected. If you're thinking of staying the night in the capital, light rain is forecast for the evening, with the temperature dropping just a few degrees to 15.
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Tickets and Travel
Click here for all your ticket news.
Click here for directions and parking information for Loftus Road.
If you are taking the train you'll be pleased to know there are no Tube strikes planned for Saturday. The next stoppage isn't planned to take place until October 3.
The nearest Tube station is White City on the Central Line, which is about a five minute walk. A little further along Wood Lane, opposite BBC Television Centre, is Wood Lane Station, which is on the Hammersmith & City line and is around a seven-minute walk away from Loftus Road.
There are two other Tube stations close by, Shepherds Bush Market on the Hammersmith & City line and Shepherds Bush on the Central Line. The former is about a ten-minute walk away from the ground while the other is about 15 minutes. Leaving both tube stations turn right and the ground will come into view further down on the right. Queens Park Tube station is nowhere near the ground.
The nearest train station is Shepherds Bush, which is adjacent to the tube station. However, it is not directly served by any of the major London mainline stations. Trains from Watford Junction and Clapham Junction both stop there.
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Full coverage of the game will be available on Boro World. Right now on Boro World we have exclusive interviews with Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister, Dave Parnaby and Gary O'Neil, plus the highlights and goals from Boro's impressive midweek Reserve win - and if you took some time off last weekend you may have missed exclusive interviews with Andy Halliday and Julio Arca. They're still on Boro World too.
www.mfc.co.uk/articles/20100910/match-pack-qpr-_70638_2149198
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