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Tuesday 17th March 2009
Loftus Road Stadium
Referee: G D Horwood
Kick-off: 20:00
Queens Park Rangers (12th) V Swansea City (9th)
By thegodfather

Without a win in their last nine matches, Queens Park Rangers face Swansea City at Loftus Road. With Sousa’s job reportedly hanging by a thread, it’s important that the Rs get back to winning ways on Tuesday night.

Swansea City

Swansea City is a club on the up. Last year, talented young manager, Roberto Martinez, guided the Swans to the League One title in his first full season in charge. Many pundits thought that City would struggle in the Championship but those who doubted the team have been proved wrong.

Martinez’s men have made a massive impact on the league with their flowing, passing movements. They currently lie just outside the play-off positions, a real achievement for a team that was playing in the fourth tier of English football not so long ago. This season has also seen the club reach the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, knocking out holders, Portsmouth, in the process. They were eventually beaten by Fulham.

The Swans come into this game on the back of a very disappointing 1-3 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday at The Liberty Stadium. They will certainly be eager to bounce back from this with a victory over Paulo Sousa’s struggling QPR side.

Men to watch

Jason Scotland is exactly the sort of striker that Queens Park Rangers lack. Strong, good on the ball, with an eye for goal, he has scored 21 times this season for the Swans. The 30 year-old first made his name at Scottish side, St Johnstone, where he netted 33 times in 66 appearances, before signing for Swansea in 2007. He has also made 35 appearances for the Trinidad and Tobago national team.

Spaniard, Gorka Pintado, could partner Scotland in attack on Tuesday night. The 30 year-old, who has had successful spells with Spanish sides, Granada, Granmenet and Figueres, joined the Swans last summer. He has put away 7 goals this campaign.

As well as Pintado, Martinez signed fellow Spaniard, Jordi Gomez, last summer on loan from Espanyol. The midfielder has scored an impressive total of 13 goals this season. The 23 year-old could have a bright future ahead of him.

Martinez could also select central midfielder, Darren Pratley, who has scored 7 times this season. The former Fulham and Brentford man has made over 100 appearances for the Swans since joining them in 2006.

Leon Britton has made over 200 starts for Swansea City since signing for them in 2003 from West Ham United. The 26 year-old won the ‘Player of the Year’ award from an online supporters’ website in 2003 and 2006. He has played a key role in the heart of midfield this season.

Martinez could also choose the versatile, Mark Gower. The 30 year-old joined City from Southend United last summer and can play anywhere across the midfield. He also lists Barnet, Motherwell and Tottenham Hotspur among his former clubs.

On the wing, Swansea have the pacey Nathan Dyer on loan from Southampton. The 21 year-old, who has spent the majority of this season at Sheffield United, could cause QPR some problems on Tuesday night.

At the back, Ashley Williams has made over 30 appearances for the Swans since joining them last summer from Stockport County. The talented 24 year-old also has 11 caps for the Welsh national team.

Williams will probably be partnered in the heart of defence by Spanish centre-half, Albert Serran, who signed for the Swans in 2008 from Espanyol. The talented 24 year-old will provide a stern test for the Queens Park Rangers forwards on Tuesday night.

At right-back, City have another Spaniard – Angel Rangel. The 26 year-old joined the club in 2007 and played a big role in City’s promotion to the Championship last season. He has continued his solid performances into the 2008/09 campaign.

In goal, Martinez has 28 year-old keeper, Dorus De Vries. Before joining Swansea in 2007, the Dutchman had a successful one-year spell with Dunfermline Athletic. He was involved in a hideous collision with Martin Rowlands in the fixture at the Liberty Stadium earlier this season, which left him with a broken jaw.

Previous Matches

August 2004 – Goals from Jamie Cureton, Martin Rowlands and Kevin Gallen helped QPR to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Swansea in the Carling Cup First Round. Cureton put Rangers into the lead early on when he converted Gino Padula’s free-kick. Rowlands doubled the lead in the 77th minute, smashing the ball home after Lee Cook had hit the crossbar. Kevin Gallen missed a penalty in the 83rd minute, before redeeming himself almost immediately, lobbing into the net from 25 yards out.

Queens Park Rangers 3-0 Swansea City

October 2008 – QPR failed to create a single chance against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium, despite defender, Alan Tate, acting as a makeshift goalkeeper for the home side after a serious injury to Dorus De Vries. The City keeper was stretchered off after a collision with Martin Rowlands during the first-half. The Swans dominated the rest of the match but a solid display from Damion Stewart and Fitz Hall in the heart of defence ensured that Rangers escaped with a point in what would turn out to be Iain Dowie’s last match in charge.

QPR Manager, Iain Dowie: "We all wish the lad (Dorus de Vries) a speedy recovery. I don't think there was any malice in that. I thought it was a ball Martin Rowlands was entitled to go for. I'm pleased with the point but not the performance, we didn't do nowhere near the things we do well normally, we didn't pass the ball with any conviction. We were never going to test their keeper without passing the ball."

Swansea City 0-0 Queens Park Rangers

League Form

Queens Park Rangers: LLDLD (Last match – Southampton 0-0 QPR)

Swansea City: DDDWL (Last match – Swansea 1-3 QPR).

Team News

Rowan Vine could make a remarkable return to the QPR squad after recovering from a broken leg he suffered last year in a freak training-ground incident. Heidar Helguson and Lee Cook have both missed the last few matches through injuries. Whether they will return to the team for Tuesday night is unclear (there has been no information about this on the official website). New loan signing, Adel Taraabt, could make his debut on the wing. Patrick Agyemang, Martin Rowlands and Akos Buzsaky remain long-term absentees.

For Swansea, left-back, Alan Tate, is out of this match with an ankle problem. Garry Monk could replace him. Marcos Painter and Ferrie Bodde will not return to action again this season – both are out with serious injuries.

Prediction

It’s very difficult to see Queens Park Rangers scoring at the moment. The team seems to lack ideas when going forward and it’s really costing the Rs. Rowan Vine, who is likely to be on the bench, could make a difference if he is brought on. Against a very good Swansea side, it’s going to be very tough for Rangers to take maximum points from this fixture. I’m afraid that I’m going to go for another goalless draw.

Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Swansea City