The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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QPR Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 03/10/2003

THE Mariners face perhaps the toughest game of their season so far against high-flying QPR who only narrowly missed out on promotion themselves at the end of last season.

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TownQPR
WBlackpool(a)1-0
DSheff Wed(a)0-0
WChesterfield(a)4-0
LSwindon(a)1-2
LHartlepool(h)1-8
Currently 14th in Division 2
WBarnsley(h)4-0
DBristol City(h)1-1
WSheff Utd (Cup)(a)2-0
DLuton(a)1-1
WWrexham(a)2-0
Currently 3rd in Division 2

Top Scorers

 

TownQPR
Boulding6
Anderson3
Cas2
Ainsworth1

QPR Facts

Manager
Ian Holloway. Ex-Bristol Rovers manager who took over at Loftus Road at the back end of the 2000/01 season when they were involved, and eventually relegated, in a relegation dogfight with Town. Finished 8th in his first season in the second division, whilst last season, he guided Rangers to a play off spot, only to loose to Cardiff at the Millennium stadium in the final. Expected by most people to be challenging for automatic promotion this term.

Top Players
Rangers have a squad with a blend of experience and youth - a mixture that will probably see them in the promotion mix up at the end of this season. Boss Ian Holloway has an array of forwards to choose from. Perhaps the bargain of the season was ex Luton forward Tony Thorpe (left) who was bought for £50,000 and has netted three times already for his new side. He could be partnered by Paul Furlong, Kevin Gallen or Eric Sabin.

Providing creativity from the midfield will be the experienced Gareth Ainsworth who signed after a short spell with Cardiff last season, and has already hit some spectacular goals for the Loftus Road club. Rangers also have one of the divisions hottest young talents in 20 year old Richard Pacquette whom since his debut in the 2000/01 season, has continued to excite and impress the Rangers fans with some explosive performances in attack. At the back, they have quite a few injury problems so have drafted in Arthur Gnohere on loan from Burnley - a player Michael Boulding ran ragged at the end of the 02/03 season in a 3-0 win for the Mariners.

Team News

 

TownQPR

  • There appear to be no new injury worries for the Mariners, and we can expect the same side that started at Blackpool on Tuesday night. Defender Mike Edwards, who went off at half time through illness, is expected to be well enough to play along with Tony Crane at the back.

  • The good news for Town is that midfield dynamo Iain Anderson is nearing full fitness after starting full training on Wednesday. He is thought to be back in contention for next week’s game with Brighton.
  • Rangers are a little short of defenders at the moment, with Richard Edghill and Danny Shittu both sidelined for three and six weeks respectively. Meanwhile, Clarke Carlisle is still recovering in rehabilitation for his alcohol problem.

  • Kevin McLeod is both suspended and injured, whilst Paul Furlong seems to also be serving a suspension, meaning that Tony Thorpe will resume up front along with Kevin Gallen in an unchanged lineup from the one that thrashed Barnsley 4-0 on Tuesday.
  • Probable Starting XI's

     

    TownQPR
    Aidan Davison
    John McDermott
    Darren Barnard
    Tony Crane
    Mike Edwards
    Des Hamilton
    Jason Crowe
    Nicky Daws
    Stuart Campbell
    Michael Boulding
    Iffy Onoura
    Chris Day
    Terrell Forbes
    Gino Padula
    Steve Palmer
    Arthur Gnohere
    Martin Rowlands
    Gareth Ainsworth
    Marcus Bean
    Mark Bircham
    Kevin Gallen
    Tony Thorpe

    Subs

     

    TownQPR
    Greg Young
    Darren Mansaram
    Phil Jevons
    Chris Bolder
    Graham Hockless
    Nick Culkin (GK)
    Richard Pacquette
    Wesley Daly
    Dennis Oli
    Eric Sabin

    Last Time Out

    The Mariners last met Rangers at the end of the season that saw QPR relegated from Division One. In a relegation "six pointer", Rangers controlled the game and threw everything at Town. However, Mariners keeper Danny Coyne was in inspirational form that day and after Rangers failed to score after an hour of football, inevitably Town grabbed a winner thorough now player boss Paul Groves, who headed in a free kick on 80 minutes.

    Town Team: Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore, Groves, EnHua, Coldicott, Donovan, Campbell, Allen, Cornwall, Burnett.

    QPR Team: Harper, Perry, Barraclough, Plummer, Ready, Knight, Peacock, Crouch, Kiwomya, Darlington.

    Attendance: 17,608    Report

    QPR Head-to-Head (34th on The Opposition Ladder).

    Prediction

    Fishy prediction: This will be a tough match for Town, and a draw would be a creditable result, so I’ll say 1-1. Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.




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