MX23RW : Saturday, November 23 02:28:00| >> :120:58609:58609:
[monks data]
QPR logo
Premier League
Jan 1, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Swansea logo

1-1

Fer (20')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Bony (92')

Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Swansea City

Sports Mole looks ahead to the New Year's Day Premier League meeting between QPR and Swansea at Loftus Road.

Queens Park Rangers will be content with where they sit at the start of 2015, but victory over Swansea City at Loftus Road on New Year's Day could put them in a very strong position in their battle against the drop.

The R's currently sit two points clear of the bottom three and will be happy to start the year with a home match given their troubles on the road this season.

All 18 of their points have come at Loftus Road, a better record than any other side in the bottom half of the table.

They were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace on Sunday, however, with the in-form Charlie Austin having a rare quiet day and failing to score for the first time since the reverse fixture between these two sides at the start of December.

His goals have been a big help to QPR's survival bid so far, but there are still concerns at the other end, where the Hoops have conceded more than any other side this season.

Full-back Yun Suk-young and midfield enforcer Sandro remain sidelined, which should pave the way for Joey Barton to continue in the middle of the park despite criticising the club's fans recently.

There could also be a return to the starting lineup for Eduardo Vargas, who missed out to Junior Hoilett for the draw against the Eagles.

Swansea boss Garry Monk could also make changes to his side as he looks for a response to the 4-1 drubbing they received at the hands of Liverpool on Monday.

Jonjo Shelvey scored an own goal in that match and could yet find himself in hot water with the FA, having appeared to catch Emre Can with an elbow despite receiving a warning over his discipline from Monk.

Wilfried Bony was uncharacteristically subdued before being taken off just past the hour, but he is expected to start again despite Bafetimbi Gomis impressing during his 30-minute cameo.

The Swans have lost on both of their trips to the capital so far this season and have only won twice on the road all told, with only three teams managing fewer points away from home in the top flight.

Monk will be without Jefferson Montero, who faces up to two months on the sidelines through injury, but Ki Sung-yeung and Angel Rangel could be among those to return to the starting lineup.

QPR:

Recent form: LWLWLD

Possible starting lineup: Green; Isla, Dunne, Caulker, Hill; Vargas, Henry, Barton, Fer; Zamora, Austin

Swansea:

Recent form: WLLWWL

Possible starting lineup: Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Britton, Ki, Dyer, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Bony

Sports Mole says: 2-2


ID:196269: cacheID:196269:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5764:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Wilfried Bony of Swansea City celebrates scoring their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Leicester City at Liberty Stadium on October 25, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Swansea vs. QPR
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5Watford168262524126
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
18Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!