IT’S DERBY day at Loftus Road this weekend, as QPR welcome Chelsea to W12.
Mark Hughes’s men, who are still without a Barclays Premier League victory, play host to the table-topping Blues in what promises to be a rip-roaring affair in West London.
Hughes could hand home league debuts to Julio Cesar, Ryan Nelsen, Stephane Mbia and Esteban Granero, whilst Roberto Di Matteo could be forced into changes, with John Terry and Ashley Cole both missing out for England against Ukraine on Tuesday night.
Rangers, of course, will be buoyed by their success against Chelsea in the fixture at Loftus Road last season, when Heidar Helguson’s spot-kick handed the R’s victory on an afternoon that will live long in the memory for QPR fans.
On the flip-side, last season’s 6-1 defeat to the Blues at Stamford Bridge is one Hoops supporters would rather forget.
In the wake of a two week international break, Saturday’s game – which is a complete sell-out - promises to be a pulsating affair in W12, as the new-look R’s go in search of their first league victory of the season.
The Numbers Game
3 – The number of top-flight titles Chelsea have won in the modern day Premier League era
1905 – The year the Blues were formed
28 – The number of managers Chelsea have had in their 107-year history – the first being John Robertson back in 1905
2 – Branislav Ivanovic, Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres all have two Premier League goals apiece this term
795 – Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris is the club’s record appearance holder with 795 outings for the Blues. The tough-tackling defender also scored 14 goals in this time
82,905 – Chelsea’s record attendance at Stamford Bridge versus Arsenal (12/10/1935) – also the highest-ever attendance for an English league game
4 – New signing Eden Hazard already has four Premier League assists to his name for Chelsea this season
Match Odds with Bet Victor
QPR win: 19/5
Draw: 13/5
Chelsea win: 20/23
Pre-Match Talk
Jamie Mackie - “This is the one everyone really wants to be involved in.
“As players, you relish games like this and I know the fans will be feeling exactly the same.
“Last season’s victory was fantastic for everyone involved, but that’s the past now and it’s up to us to try and replicate that result this weekend.”
Memorable Meeting
Premier League: QPR 1, Chelsea 0 – October 23rd 2011
Scorers: QPR – Helguson
Match Officials
Referee – A Marriner
Assistant – M Mullarkey
Assistant – M McDonough
4th Official – N Swarbrick
Premier League Fixtures
Saturday 15th September 2012 (3pm unless stated)
Norwich City v West Ham United (12:45pm)
Arsenal v Southampton
Aston Villa v Swansea City
Fulham v West Bromwich Albion
Manchester United v Wigan Athletic
QPR v Chelsea
Stoke City v Manchester City
Sunderland v Liverpool (17:30pm)
Sunday 16th September 2012
Reading v Tottenham (16:00pm)
Monday 17th September 2012 - Premier League
Everton v Newcastle (20:00pm)
Next QPR fixture
Sunday 23rd September 2012 – Tottenham Hotspur v QPR (4.00pm)