RANGERS make the nostalgic trip to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow evening (Saturday) to face Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City in a live ESPN clash.
Our last fixture against Roberto Mancini’s charges is one that R’s fans will never forget, with QPR surviving on the final day of last season - despite a 3-2 defeat at Eastlands.
Late, late goals from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero also clinched the title for City.
Tomorrow’s contest probably won’t be as traumatic – but expect goals at the Etihad, especially given the fact that both sides shared ten goals between them in the two league matches they contested last term.
New signing Esteban Granero is in line to make his QPR debut following a move from Real Madrid on Thursday night.
Recent long-term injury victim Ale Faurlin played 90 minutes in Rangers’ Capital One Cup victory over Walsall in midweek and could also feature, as could Kieron Dyer – introduced as a second-half substitute against the Saddlers on Tuesday night.
Samba Diakite is out, however, owing to personal reasons.
City boss Roberto Mancini will be without Sergio Aguero (knee), while Micah Richards (foot) also remains sidelined. Gareth Barry is also set to miss out (hernia).
Joleon Lescott, however, could return to the side after sitting out of the Blues’ draw at Liverpool on Sunday.
The Numbers Game – Man City
*1880 – St. Mark’s Church forms a football team which would later evolve into Manchester City
*5 – The number of times City have won the FA Cup
*48 – The record number of international caps won by a City player, Colin Bell’s 48 for England
*94 – The minute Sergio Aguero scored in on the final match of last season against QPR to clinch City the league championship
*32 – City have scored in their last 32 fixtures at the Etihad Stadium
*24 – They’ve also won 24 of their last 25 home matches in the Premier League
*3 – City have conceded at least two goals in their last three matches in the Premier League
Pre-match Talk
QPR striker, Djibril Cisse …
“We managed to stay up but we lost that game (last season’s 3-2 defeat at the Etihad Stadium). We’re going to have to do better.
“But it showed that we’re capable of going there and getting a result. On our day, we can compete with anyone. We’ll see.”
Match Odds with Bet Victor
Man City win: 1/5
Draw: 13/2
QPR win: 14/1
Last Meeting
Barclays Premier League: Manchester City 3, QPR 2 – Sunday 13th May 2012
Scorers: Man City – Zabaleta, Dzeko, Aguero; QPR – Cisse, Mackie
Match Officials
Referee – C Foy
Assistants – D C Richards & H Lennard
4th Official – M Oliver
Other Premier League Fixtures
Saturday 1st September 2012 (kick-off 3pm unless stated)
West Ham v Fulham (12.45pm)
Swansea v Sunderland
Tottenham v Norwich
West Brom v Everton
Wigan v Stoke
Man City v QPR (5.30pm)
Sunday 2nd September 2012
Liverpool v Arsenal (1.30pm)
Newcastle v Aston Villa (4pm)
Southampton v Man Utd (4pm)
Next QPR fixture
Saturday 15th September 2012 – QPR v Chelsea (3pm)