QPR v Palace

Loftus Road, Saturday 3.00pm

Story so far

QPR have had a rough old summer and start to the season.

After the suspension of Ian Holloway, Gary Waddock was promoted from caretaker to full-time manager.

He brought in eight players and was demoted after a poor start to his Championship campaign. Waddock left the club mid October.

John Gregory took over the managerial reigns and the club is starting to look a bit better. They are scoring goals - quite a few of them as well, but a conceding soft goals themselves.

The relegation of Brighton, Millwall and Crewe was the sole reason for QPR staying in this division at the end of last season, and their hopes of pushing on in getting away from a relegation battle have all but started to fade away.

Team news

The Eagles have won twice in the last 13 games and will be looking to get one over their London rivals on Saturday.

Midfield pair Marco Reich and Ben Watson will have late fitness tests after picking up knocks in the midweek defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

James Scowcroft (hamstring) and Michael Hughes (knee) both returned to full training this week.

Manager Peter Taylor is likely to keep faith with rookie keeper Scott Flinders despite conceding three goals against Sheffield Wednesday.

QPR's Mark Bircham and Martin Rowlands hope to shake off knocks to play. But Paul Furlong and Dominic Shimmin (both groin) miss out.

Quotes

Peter Taylor

"We are certainly giving away incredibly poor goals too often and that's why we're having a bad run," explained Taylor.

"I am amazed, looking at the quality we have in the changing room, that we have only picked up nine points from the last 12 matches, I'm staggered.

"The team and the squad are too good for that, so we've just got to keep grafting and get our act together.

"I know that we are going to win very soon and when we do, the players will be lifted and we will go on and win again," he said. "I have the utmost faith in the players.

"You can get confidence back as quickly as it goes and we will get it back and get over this hurdle.

"The only way we're going to get out of this is by working incredibly hard and sticking together."

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QPR - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
20th	15	3	6	6	15

Full league table

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QPR - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	0	3	2	10	12

Full form table

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Our away record v QPR

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
45	13	8	24	50	78

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Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
14/02/2006	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 1	QPR
03/10/2005	League	QPR	1 - 3	Crystal Palace
30/12/2000	League	QPR	1 - 1	Crystal Palace
20/08/2000	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 1	QPR
22/03/2000	League	QPR	0 - 1	Crystal Palace

All time results

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One to watch

Dexter Blackstock

Having never really been given a true run-out in the previous three sides that he's played for, the 20-year-old has already grabbed this chance by the horns.

After a summer switch from Southampton, Blackstock has already shown his worth with five goals in 13 appearances.

He has pace, which he can use to either run at defences or hang off of the last man. He also has power and strength which he can use to force his way into the box.

Probable line-up

	Kuqi	Scowcroft
Kennedy	Fletcher	Watson	Soares
Borrowdale	Lawrence	Cort	Butterfield
Flinders

Ref watch

Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

A man of many guises, fluctuating in performance level from awful to great in a matter of moments, Phil Dowd is the original Mr Inconsistent and it promises to lead to a frustrating afternoon for all supporters at Loftus Road.

This is Mr Dowd's ninth season as a referee and is widely respected within the domestic game, though as with all referees, he does have his moments!

In his 13th appointment of the season, having taken in the footballing surroundings of places like Chester and Yeovil already this term, Dowd will go into the game having issued 30 yellow cards. He hasn't, however had to brandish a red one, though has pointed to the penalty spot twice already.

Last meeting

Palace 2-1 QPR

Tuesday February 14 2006

Palace: Kiraly, Ward, Borrowdale, Boyce, Leigertwood, Watson, Soares, Andrews (Hughes, 78), McAnuff, Macken (Freedman, 15), Morrison

Subs not used: Speroni, Fray, Grabban

Bookings: Leigertwood

Goals: Morrison 3, McAnuff 32

QPR: Jones, Bignot (Furlong, 37), Milanese, Evatt, Shittu, Cook, Donnelly (Baidoo, 71), Lomas, Langley, Rose, Nygaard

Subs not used: Santos, Kus, Thomas

Bookings: Milanese, Nygaard

Goals: Furlong 56

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