Coventry Official Site
PREVIEW: QPR v Coventry City
Posted on: Fri 27 Nov 2009
Venue: Loftus Road
When: Saturday, November 27
Kick Off: 3pm
Competition: Coca-Cola Championship
COVENTRY City travel to Loftus Road on Saturday looking to build on a positive point earned in last Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Crystal Palace.
Leon Best notched his eighth goal of the season for the Sky Blues with his equaliser to cancel out Darren Ambrose's opener, earning City their first point against the Eagles at the Ricoh Arena.
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OVERVIEW
QUEENS Park Rangers have earmarked themselves as early play-off contenders after fighting their way to sixth place in the Coca-Cola Championship table.
Their most recent 2-0 defeat away to Doncaster Rovers has done little in the way of laying waste to their play-off aspirations which have been masterminded by boss Jim Magilton following his appointment at the club in the summer.
QPR have lost just once at Loftus Road so far this season which will make them a tough proposition for any side this campaign.
HEAD TO HEAD
THE Sky Blues have an impressive history against Rangers, having won 43 of 104 encounters between the two sides since 1926, Rangers winning 34 with 27 ending up in draws.
Recent results have also seen the Sky Blues win two of the last five meetings between the two clubs, QPR winning one with two ending in draws.
Last five fixtures
QPR 1 Coventry City 1, Coca-Cola Championship, 10/01/2009
Coventry City 1 QPR 0, Coca-Cola Championship, 20/09/2008
Coventry City 0 QPR 0, Coca-Cola Championship, 05/03/2008
QPR 1 Coventry City 2, Coca-Cola Championship, 06/11/2007
Coventry City 0 QPR 1, Coca-Cola Championship, 07/04/2007
CONNECTIONS
COVENTRY City midfielder Aron Gunnarsson and QPR'S Icelandic striker Heidar Helguson, currently on loan at Watford, are teammates in the Iceland national side.
QPR defender Gary Borrowdale also formerly plied his trade at the Ricoh Arena.
LAST GAME
Doncaster Rovers 2 QPR 0
ROVERS duo Billy Sharp and Dean Shiels combined to subject QPR to their third away defeat of the season at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Sharp netted his fourth goal in five games after tucking away Quinton Fortune's cross from close range.
And Shiels capitalised on a defensive mix up in the Rangers defence with a deflected effort that looped over 'keeper Radek Cerny.
INJURIES AND BANS
Coventry City are still expected to be without midfielder Sammy Clingan (foot) and defender James McPake (shoulder).
Marcus Hall is also understood to be a week away from full fitness.
Young midfield duo Adam Walker and Ashley Cain are also out on loan to Nuneaton Town and Luton Town respectively.
For QPR, centre-half Fitz Hall returns to the squad after missing last weekend's defeat at Doncaster with a back injury.
He came through a midweek reserve outing in one piece and could go straight back into the starting line-up.
Boss Jim Magilton could make further changes with Adel Taarabt and Gary Borrowdale pushing for recalls following the surprise 2-0 reverse.
Strikers Rowan Vine (hernia) and Angelo Balanta (groin) are close to returning and winger Lee Cook (knee) has stepped up his training and could be back before Christmas.
But Gavin Mahon and Martin Rowlands are long-term absentees with knee injuries and fellow midfielder Hogan Ephraim has joined League One leaders Leeds on a month's loan.
DANGER MAN
Jay Simpson
SEVEN goals so far this campaign despite a midfield disposition is not something to be sniffed at which is why the youngster is one to watch on Saturday afternoon.
Currently on loan from Premier League outfit Arsenal, the 20-year-old is currently going through his 'blooding' stage but he still comes from the Arsene Wenger school of football so expect plenty of creativity and flair.
Simpson may have only scored once in his last four games but he also netted on three consecutive occasions during the second half of October when Rangers were enjoying a scoring spree.
So the newly formed City centre-half partnership of Leon Barnett and Richard Wood will need to be on their toes should manage Chris Coleman take a 'tried-and-tested' tact.
BETTING
YOU could win a signed team photo just by opening a new account with bet365 and depositing £10!
Just e-mail your account number and postal details to nick.connoll@ccfc.co.uk
One lucky entrant will also win a free copy of Championship Manager 2010 for PC provided you open your account before Friday, December 11!
Use that £10 to take advantage of £200 worth of free bets with the Sky Blues official betting partner...better yet use it to back the Sky Blues at Loftus Road tomorrow.
Put £5 on in-form City striker Leon Best to score the only goal of the game at Loftus Road and you could get £350 back!!!
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www.ccfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10269~1887525,00.html