Fulham visit Reading ~ Ch. Team News MD27
last updated Friday 20th January 2017, 2:38 PM
Team News
Queens Park Rangers v Fulham
Championship Match Day 27 1617 at Loftus Road Stadium
Saturday 21st January 2017 KO: 12:30
Live on: Sky Sports 1
Keith Stroud (Hampshire)
Referee:
Keith Stroud (Hampshire)
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QPR could be unchanged for the visit of west London rivals Fulham.
Rangers have no new injury worries after picking up a surprise 1-0 win at promotion-chasing Reading last Thursday.
Jack Robinson is still a couple of weeks away from returning due to a hamstring problem and fellow defender Steven Caulker remains sidelined by a hip injury.
On-loan Brighton winger Kazenga LuaLua made his Rangers debut as a late sub last week and should be involved again.
QPR manager Ian Holloway told BBC Radio London:
"Losing so many games in a row forced my hand to be as brutal as I have been [with transfers].
"It is sometimes about clearing out things to get a freshness. The atmosphere here is one of optimism and the young players have helped with that.
"Our pitch is small and tight and Fulham are a fantastic test for us. We need to get around them and in their faces and try and carry on our momentum.
"Slavisa Jokanovic seemed to get no credit for what he did at Watford and no appreciation from them. Fulham's wage bill has gone backwards yet he has managed to hold it all together and play some wonderful football."
QPR have lost three of their lost four home league games against Fulham, winning the other 2-1 in a Premier League match in December 2012.
The Hoops have won every game in which midfielder Ryan Manning has started this season (three out of three).
QPR have managed just eight first-half league goals this season, fewer than any other Championship side.
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Fulham striker Chris Martin looks set to keep his place in the Fulham side after scoring one and setting up the other in the 2-0 win over Barnsley.
The on-loan striker was making his first appearance since Boxing Day amid claims he wanted to return to parent club Derby.
The only absentees from the Cottagers squad are Floyd Ayite and Neeskens Kebano, who are on international duty at the African Nations Cup.
Brazilian winger Lucas Piazon has extended his loan spell from Chelsea until the end of the season.
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic told BBC Radio London:
"We played well against QPR last time, created many opportunities and missed two penalties.
"At this moment we play with more confidence and have improved ourselves. We know how important it is for our fans.
"I have to be happy because we have created an identity. We are more solid but in football it is important to win the game.
"We want to play these kinds of games and, although it is not my first derby around the world, I am excited like our supporters."
Fulham have won seven of their last nine league games against the Hoops (L2), although the Whites lost the most recent encounter in October (1-2).
Fulham, who won 2-0 away at Ipswich in their last away league game, haven't won back-to-back away league games since December 2014.
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Source Sporting Life
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