QPR Official Site
THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: TOFFEES
Posted on: Fri 02 Mar 2012
QPR welcome David Moyes' Everton side to Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon, for yet another crucial Barclays Premier League fixture.
With just 12 matches remaining, Rangers boss Mark Hughes will have identified home games like this as key to the R's survival hopes.
The Toffees - who were not in action last weekend owing to Liverpool's successful involvement in the Carling Cup Final - head to Loftus Road in fine form.
Inspired by some excellent business in the January transfer window, Moyes' side are currently unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions - a run of games that has seen them progress to the quarter-final stages of the FA Cup, where they will play host Sunderland in the last eight.
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Recent Premier League scalps include a memorable 1-0 win over title favourites Manchester City, as well as a 2-0 home victory over Chelsea at Goodison Park.
The return of former fans' favourite Steven Pienaar, who is back on Merseyside on loan from Spurs, has been instrumental in their upturn in fortunes, and with a seemingly kind run of fixtures between now and the end of the season, expectations are understandably high at Goodison Park.
Rangers, however, have proved they have what it takes to beat the Toffees already this season.
Tommy Smith's first-half strike sealed maximum points for the R's at Goodison Park in late August and a repeat of that result this afternoon will go some way to aiding the R's survival bid, as the business end of the campaign draws ever closer.
Likely Starting XI ...
Howard
Hibbert - Distin - Heitinga - Baines
Gibson - Neville
Pienaar - Fellaini - Drenthe
Stracqualursi
Player to Watch ... Steven PIENAAR (Midfielder)
Tottenham Hotspur loanee Steve Pienaar first joined Everton in the summer of 2007.
Pienaar began his career at Ajax Cape Town - the satellite Club of the Dutch side - before emerging as one of the hottest talents in the Eredivisie with Ajax.
Pienaar excelled during his time with the Dutch outfit, gaining valuable European experience through Ajax's Champions League campaigns.
In January 2006, Borussia Dortmund secured the services of the South African - seen as a direct replacement for Tomas Rosicky.
The 29 year old moved to Goodison Park on year-long loan, before eventually signing for the Toffees.
Pienaar soon became an integral part of the Everton midfield, with his frequent creative attacking play.
In 2010, Pienaar became the face of a nation, as he featured in a World Cup in his home country.
He opted for a move to Spurs in January 2011 after turning down a new contract at Everton.
However, after a frustrating 12 months at White Hart Lane, the South African international returned on deadline day January 2012 until the end of the season.
The Numbers Game:
*20 - Only 20 different players started for Everton in the league last season - the fewest of all the top-flight teams.
*350 - David Moyes is only the fourth Manager to oversee 350 Premier League games, in the company of Messrs Wenger, Ferguson and Redknapp.
*1878 - The Club were formed as St Domingo's FC in 1878, before changing their name to Everton FC in 1879.
*6.3 - Prior to this campaign, Aussie attacker Tim Cahill was the most prolific scorer of headed goals in Premier League history, netting a goal with his head on average every 6.3 games.
*40,158 - Capacity of the Toffees' home ground, Goodison Park.
Pre-Match Talk:
*Joey Barton - "Everton are never easy opponents, no matter where or when you play them.
"I know QPR had a great result up at Goodison earlier in the season before my time here. That was a bit of a shock at the time, because there was a bout of illness in the camp too, but Tommy Smith scored and helped produce a great win.
"They're never an easy team to beat."
*Phil Neville - "I don't think QPR will go down with the quality of players they have.
"They've got good front players - Wright-Phillips, Zamora, Cisse.
"We're going to have to play well to get a result."
Match Odds with Coral:
QPR: 21/10
Draw: 9/4
Everton: 13/10
Last Home Meeting:
Premier League: QPR 3, Everton 1 - Monday 8th April 1996.
Scorers: QPR - Gallen, Hateley, Impey; Everton - Ebbrell.
Match Officials
Referee - K Friend
Assistants - G Turner & I Gosling
4th Official - M Jones
Match Coverage:
The Club's interactive service will be providing live match commentary of Saturday's clash against Everton, as well as offering extended highlights and the gaffer's post-match reaction. Click here to sign up to QPR Player today.
With that, we'll be also providing minute-by-minute updates from every First Team fixture involving the R's - from simple action updates to what's happening in and around the ground - in addition to an in-depth match report at full-time.
The Club's official minute-by-minute reporting will be the fans' first point of call, as other media outlets have a three-minute embargo on live reporting, allowing the R's media team to bring exclusive coverage.
Premier League Fixtures:
Saturday 3rd March 2012 (kick-off 3.00pm unless stated)
Liverpool v Arsenal (12.45pm)
Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa
Manchester City v Bolton Wanderers
QPR v Everton
Stoke City v Norwich City
West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea
Wigan Athletic v Swansea City
Sunday 4th March (kick-off 3.00pm unless stated)
Newcastle United v Sunderland (12.00pm)
Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers (14.05pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United (16.10pm)
Next QPR Fixture:
Bolton Wanderers v QPR - Barclays Premier League - Saturday 10th March 2012 (12.45pm kick-off)
www.qpr.co.uk/page/Preview/0,,10373~2629154,00.html
See if you get any others ?
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