QPR vs Blackburn Rovers - Match Preview

Blackburn Rovers' club owners recently called their under-fire boss Steve Kean a "brilliant manager" but despite getting his side to play well in stretches this season they lie 19th in the Premier League and a failure to get a result at Loftus Road against Queens Park Rangers today will likely see further calls for him to lose his job. Another protest to force Kean out is expected in London today but for the time being the owners look to be sticking with a manager they surprisingly gave the job too in the first place when they sacked Sam Allardyce for not making Rovers into a top eight team. Perhaps his side just need a bit of luck and the home defeat against Everton when they hit the frame of the goal three times and missed two penalties, only to then concede one to the opposition that they converted with ease pretty much sums up their season. During the international break the club have had a long trip away to India and will be hoping to look refreshed and up for the challenge today. QPR have been a bit of a yo-yo club this term, picking up good victories away at Wigan, Everton and Wolves but last time out were thumped 6-0 by Fulham in their heaviest top flight defeat in 24 years (though they haven't always been in the Premier League in that period) and currently sit comfortably in 11th. Certainly manager Neil Warnock and the QPR fans won't mind that position at the end of the season and as long as they keep winning 1 in every 3 games then they will have no problem surviving. QPR have not achieved back to back victories in 15 games in all competitions and will actually be looking to win at Loftus Road for the first time in seven attempts. They will also be wary that their next couple of fixtures are against Chelsea at home and Spurs at White Hart Lane so a result today is important so as not to start sinking into the danger zone.

Team News

QPR's Danny Gabbidon (keen), Kieron Dyer (foot) remain out, though left back Armand Traore should return to the starting line-up after serving a one game suspension. Blackburn's troubles are a bit more worrisome with Morten Gamst Pedersen coming back from international duty with Norway complaining of a hamstring problem and David Goodwillie is suffering from food poisoning after their Euro 2012 qualifier against Spain midweek. Definitely out are Ryan Nelsen (knee), Vince Grella (hip) and David Dunn (calf) is unlikely despite last minute injections to try and get him to field.

Line-ups from;

QPR (from): Kenny, Derry, Hall, Taarabt, Traore, Campbell, Bothroyd, Faurlin, Buzsaky, Orr, Connolly, Barton, Young, Smith, Helguson, Murphy, Wright-Phillips, Ferdinand, Puncheon. Blackburn (from): Robinson, Samba, Dann, Salgado, Givet, Hoilett, Lowe, Nzonzi, Formica, Yakubu, Bunn, Hanley, Pedersen, Petrovic, Rochina, Roberts, Vukcevic, Slew. Prediction: 0-2 - Despite the pressure on Kean, I fancy their players will want it more today and the likes of star man Junior Hoilett and Yakubu will be too much for them.