***Official Match Thread: QPR v City***
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 2:04 pm
TEAM NEWS
Joey Barton and Nedum Onuoha could both return for QPR against their former club Manchester City after recovering from hamstring injuries.
Midfielder Jordon Mutch is also fit again, but Rio Ferdinand misses his second game of a three-match ban.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has been ruled out with a calf injury suffered in the defeat by CSKA Moscow.
Frank Lampard has recovered from a thigh problem but David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov are out.
MATCH PREVIEW
It was against QPR that Sergio Aguero scored his stoppage-time, title-winning goal a couple of years ago which will always bring a smile to City fans' faces, but this trip to Loftus Road looks trickier than it would have done only a month or so ago.
Recent results have been patchy, with one win from the last five in all competitions, and Wednesday's performance in the Champions League in losing at home to CSKA Moscow was way below what's expected.
It certainly increases the spotlight on Manuel Pellegrini and his team, who aren't firing on all cylinders and obviously miss the creative input of their injured string-puller-in-chief, David Silva.
City may have one more point than they did at this stage a year ago, but they certainly don't look like a better team at the moment.
They have a mixed record this season following Champions League games with a win, a draw and a defeat in the Premier League. Their away form hasn't been bad at all with 10 points from a possible 15, though they did lose their most recent game on the road at West Ham a couple of weeks ago.
QPR will be glad to be playing at home again, as all of their points so far have been won at Loftus Road.
They will see this as a good time to have a go at the champions and their recent performances have been much improved. The last three matches have seen them push Liverpool hard before losing to an own goal in the closing moments, beat Villa 2-0 and then give a decent account of themselves in a narrow defeat at Chelsea last week.
Harry Redknapp has called for more of the same in terms of effort if they're to get out of trouble and stay in the division. It would certainly give them a fighting chance.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last four Premier League meetings with QPR (W3, D1).
When the teams last met they played out a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road on 29 January 2013.
There have been five red cards in the last eight league games between these sides.
Queens Park Rangers
All seven of the points earned by QPR this season have come at Loftus Road (W2, D1, L2).
They have won only two of their last 19 Premier League games.
Six of QPR's last seven goals have come in the second half.
Charlie Austin has now been involved in six of QPR's nine goals so far this season (five goals, 1 assist).
Manchester City
City have lost just one of their previous seven away matches in the Premier League.
They have scored in all but one of their last 23 league matches.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have not lost any of the last eight league games when David Silva has been absent (W6, D2).
Sergio Aguero has scored 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League games.
Joey Barton and Nedum Onuoha could both return for QPR against their former club Manchester City after recovering from hamstring injuries.
Midfielder Jordon Mutch is also fit again, but Rio Ferdinand misses his second game of a three-match ban.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has been ruled out with a calf injury suffered in the defeat by CSKA Moscow.
Frank Lampard has recovered from a thigh problem but David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov are out.
MATCH PREVIEW
It was against QPR that Sergio Aguero scored his stoppage-time, title-winning goal a couple of years ago which will always bring a smile to City fans' faces, but this trip to Loftus Road looks trickier than it would have done only a month or so ago.
Recent results have been patchy, with one win from the last five in all competitions, and Wednesday's performance in the Champions League in losing at home to CSKA Moscow was way below what's expected.
It certainly increases the spotlight on Manuel Pellegrini and his team, who aren't firing on all cylinders and obviously miss the creative input of their injured string-puller-in-chief, David Silva.
City may have one more point than they did at this stage a year ago, but they certainly don't look like a better team at the moment.
They have a mixed record this season following Champions League games with a win, a draw and a defeat in the Premier League. Their away form hasn't been bad at all with 10 points from a possible 15, though they did lose their most recent game on the road at West Ham a couple of weeks ago.
QPR will be glad to be playing at home again, as all of their points so far have been won at Loftus Road.
They will see this as a good time to have a go at the champions and their recent performances have been much improved. The last three matches have seen them push Liverpool hard before losing to an own goal in the closing moments, beat Villa 2-0 and then give a decent account of themselves in a narrow defeat at Chelsea last week.
Harry Redknapp has called for more of the same in terms of effort if they're to get out of trouble and stay in the division. It would certainly give them a fighting chance.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Manchester City are unbeaten in their last four Premier League meetings with QPR (W3, D1).
When the teams last met they played out a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road on 29 January 2013.
There have been five red cards in the last eight league games between these sides.
Queens Park Rangers
All seven of the points earned by QPR this season have come at Loftus Road (W2, D1, L2).
They have won only two of their last 19 Premier League games.
Six of QPR's last seven goals have come in the second half.
Charlie Austin has now been involved in six of QPR's nine goals so far this season (five goals, 1 assist).
Manchester City
City have lost just one of their previous seven away matches in the Premier League.
They have scored in all but one of their last 23 league matches.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have not lost any of the last eight league games when David Silva has been absent (W6, D2).
Sergio Aguero has scored 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League games.