QPR v West Ham Preview

The Hammers travel across London this evening to take on a Queens Park Rangers side that have recruited heavily but still find themselves anchored to the bottom of the Premier League table. With the Loftus Road outfit harbouring big ambitions Mark Hughes will soon be feeling the pressure, if QPR remain at the foot of the table. Can Big Sam increase that pressure by inflicting another defeat on QPR? Let`s hope so.

Ahead of the game, Big Sam`s number 2, Neil McDonald has spoken about our away form. Having had the best away form in the division, in the Championship, we`ve struggled to get off the mark as far as an away win is concerned in the top flight, prompting McDonald to remark,

"It`s a lot more difficult when you come into the Premier League but we got a good point at Norwich and we`re looking forward to going to QPR to try to get our first three points."

"The London derbies are difficult but it`s a game we hope we can get something out of."

It is but having spent a club record fee on Matt Jarvis you`d have thought he`d be an automatic choice, but not so with McDonald adding,

"Matt biding his time. There`s a lot of competition but he`s ready to go back in."

"Our gaffer Sam Allardyce has always had a reputation that if you play well you stay in the team."

"Whoever can`t get in, and it might be a record signing, they have to wait for their chance to come."

"And when it does come they`ve got to be ready."

Not sure I`m in agreement there. Surely with such a large expenditure you`d have thought he was permanent first team material.

Mark Hughes has some major defensive problems for this clash with four missing, these being Anton Ferdinand, Fabio and Jose Bosingwa all have hamstring problems whilst Armand Traore has a poorly leg. However, Adel Taarabt could return after injury.

A former Hammer who is now on the books of his third London club after leaving Fulham. Let`s hope that he doesn`t join the growing list of players who have scored against their former clubs.

West Ham travels to Loftus Road still without two key players. Andy Carroll, on loan from Liverpool, is still some way short of returning whilst Jack Collison is still recovering from the knee condition that has kept him out all season. Having been on the wrong end of a 4-1 walloping from Wigan in the Capital One Cup, we expect Big Sam to revert to his tried and trusted starting eleven.

We`ll need everything our captain can give us tonight, including one of his trade mark goals if we`re to return tot East London with all three points.

The clubs have only met six times, previously, in the Premier League with the record books showing West Ham have won 1, QPR have won 3 and there have been 2 draws.

In all competitions, West Ham lead the way (just) with 20 victories compared to the 19 of QPR, with the remainder being drawn.

The officials in charge are:- M. Clattenburg (referee) G. Beswick (assistant) D. England (assistant) N. Swarbrick (fourth official)

I`m not sure Queens Park Rangers position is accurately reflected in the table, I think it is more of a case of waiting for his new recruits to gel for Mark Hughes. Hopefully that`ll not happen tonight and West Ham can, in a tight game, get that first away win of the season, albeit by a very narrow margin - 1-0 to the Hammers for me!

The Hammers, in their next Premier League match, entertain London rivals Arsenal.

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