Pools take on QPR in another tough test

By Albatross
December 12 2003

After all of the cup excitement following Sunday's victory and plum tie, it's back down to earth with a tricky away game at Queen's Park Rangers. Against the table toppers on their own turf, anything other than a defeat would be remarkable.

While Pools may have the longest unbeaten home run in the League, over the season so far QPR have the best record in the division - in fact, their home form is the major reason they top the table. Seven wins and three draws from their ten games is impressive, and even more impressive is a goals record that has seen them notch 22 at Loftus Road while conceding just two. Their last two home games have seen 3-0 wins over Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday.

In fact, only two sides have prevented QPR from scoring at home: Wycombe, who ground out a 0-0 draw, and Man City in the Carling Cup, who are the only visiting team to come away from Loftus Road with a win since Wigan did so in a League game at the end of March! In all competitions, 2003 has only seen three home defeats - for a record of P27 W18 D6 L3. Ian Holloway's table-toppers may not be invulnerable, but any sort of result in this game would have to count as a major achievement.

Tony Thorpe arrived for a fee of £50000 from Luton early in the season, and is currently Rangers' top scorer with seven goals; he's had plenty of support though with former Wimbledon man Gareth Ainsworth, Paul Furlong, Kevin Gallen and Martin Rowlands all having scored six. It's not just the strikers we'll have to watch.... meanwhile, Argentinian defender Gino Padula has scored three times and is getting a reputation as something of a set piece specialist. Keeper Chris Day also has defenders such as Terrell Forbers, Danny Shittu and Clarke Carlisle in front of him to help keep things tight at the back. In midfield, there's plenty of competition for places with the veteran Steve Palmer, Ainsworth, Rowlands, £250,000 signing Kevin MacLeod, Marcus Bean and Marc Bircham all vying for starting places. Holloway in fact has no injury or suspension worries for this game, and that's not going to make our task any easier....

Neale Cooper on the other hand does have one or two problems. Mark Tinkler misses this game through suspension, and of course Gabbiadini will also be missing following his knee op. The question for Cooper therefore is who to replace Tinks with.... new loan signing Shuker may get the nod, although it's also possible that Shuker will play in a wide role. He can play on either side but is more effective on the right, so it might be that Byrne makes way for him and either Darrell Clarke or Tony Sweeney comes into the centre. Alternatively, Humphreys may move across with Shuker on the left.

Up front, Porter and Eifion Williams may well start together again, although Paul Robinson looked impressive when he came on against Burton and will be hoping to force his way into the side.

This will be our first visit to QPR, and our first league meeting. The only time we've played the Hoops before was in a pre-war FA Cup tie that QPR won 2-0 at the Vic. It's just over 65 years since that day - 10th December 1938.

It's hard to see Pools taking anything from this game. We may be 5th, but our away form is poor and we're up against the last team you want to be taking on at their own ground. A draw would be a great result, but to be honest I can't see us even getting that. 2-0 to QPR, with Provett to be our man of the match.