QPR v Preston North End,
Saturday 5th April, 2008,
Coca-Cola Championship,
Loftus Road, 3pm kick-off
North End will be aiming to celebrate Sir Tom Finney's 86th birthday in fine style by stretching their unbeaten run to seven matches on another trip to the capital to face big-spending QPR.
At Loftus Road they come across a side that has undergone radical changes both on-and-off the field this season with Formula One tycoons Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore investing heavily in the club. As a result, many new players have signed on including Fitz Hall, Matthew Connolly and Akos Buzsaky.
On Thursday the Hoops were rocked by the news that star forward Rowan Vine has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after fracturing his left leg in training. Therefore, manager Luigi De Canio must find another strike partner for Patrick Agyemang, who left Preston to move to Loftus Road at the start of January.
Alan Irvine is hoping that both Simon Whaley and Callum Davidson are fit to take their places in the starting XI after they were forced to withdraw from the win over Sheffield United prematurely having picked up slight injuries.
Neil Mellor also looks set to keep his place in attack following his two goal heroics last weekend, whilst the match is also set to be Tamas Priskin's last in a North End shirt unless a longer loan deal can be agreed between North End and Watford.
Fans travelling to Loftus Road are also encouraged to take their bowler hats to celebrate the 'Return of the Gentry'. The Gentry have made sporadic appearances at Preston North End games in recent times and this Saturday in London they will be out in force once again in tribute and memory to any Preston North End follower who may have passed away in the last 12 months.
The League Table
If North End take the spoils from their trip to the capital then they will leapfrog their London counterparts. Both teams have currently amassed 53 points, they have a comparable goal difference of minus two, but Rangers pip the Lilywhites to 14th spot because they have scored 13 more goals.
North End can move into the top half with a victory but that would be dependant on a very heavy win over QPR and for Sheffield United to lose at home to Leicester City. Cardiff City aren't involved in the Championship this weekend because of their FA Cup semi-final tie with Barnsley.
North End cannot move down a position this weekend because Blackpool, who lie three points below Alan Irvine's men don't play until next Tuesday when they face West Bromwich Albion.
Ones To Watch
Neil Mellor
There was no better way for Neil Mellor to prove his value to the North End cause than his performance against Sheffield United last week. Mells was nothing short of sensational and thoroughly deserved his brace of goals and Man of the Match gong.
Two clinical finishes highlighted his goalscoring prowess, especially his second strike in the last minute in which the former Liverpool man ran half the length of the pitch to drill past Paddy Kenny.
Mells had been banging the goals in for the reserves too, finding the net four times in his last two outings for the second string.
Strikers tend to enjoy goalscoring streaks and it wouldn't be a major surprise if the No. 33 continued his rich vein of form with another goal or two at Loftus Road.
Patrick Agyemang
Speaking of players in form, Pat Agyemang has - rather ironically - been banging in the goals for fun since his move from Preston in January.
Although the pacey forward hasn't scored in the last month or so, he has netted nine times for QPR since his £350,000 move to Loftus Road during the opening days of the transfer window.
Pat scored four goals for Preston this campaign prior to his move, his double strike against Southampton being the most notable achievement.
The 27-year-old earned the tag of 'super sub' during his time at Deepdale for his impact when introduced from the bench on many occasions.
The North End backline will know about Pat's attributes and they will be hoping that their knowledge will help prevent him from adding to his tally on Saturday afternoon.
Last Time Out
Preston 3 Sheffield United 1
Preston: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St. Ledger, Davidson (Hill 46), Sedgwick, McKenna, Carter, Whaley (Chaplow 82), Brown, Mellor. (Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Lewis Neal, Priskin.)
Ipswich 0 QPR 0
QPR: Camp, Mancienne, Connolly, Hall, Stewart, Ephraim (Balanta 90), Mahon, Leigertwood (Rowlands 57), Vine (Lee 65), Blackstock, Agyemang. (Subs Not Used: Pickens, Barker)
Head To Head
The history books read that these two teams have only ever met 28 times, with North End just pipping QPR with ten victories in all competitions compared to Rangers' seven. There have been 11 draws in total.
The clubs first met in the old Second Division back in the September of the 1949/50 season when the first game in London finished 0-0 before they returned to Deepdale a week later where North End nicked the spoils in a 3-2 thriller.
In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the game finished goalless after Paul Gallagher had a first half penalty saved by Lee Grant.
Last Time We Met At Loftus Road.
QPR 1 Preston North End 0
Blackstock 51
03/04/07 - Coca-Cola Championship
Attendance: 11,910
Referee - Mr Clive Penton
Saturday will be the first time that the Sussex-based official will take control of a game featuring Preston or QPR this season.
In the 2007/08 season so far, he has officiated in 26 fixtures, nine of which have been at Championship level. He has flashed 80 yellow cards but only dismissed two players which were Wycombe's Thomas Doherty and Southend's Matt Harold.
His last outing in which Preston featured was a couple of season's ago against Southampton in the 0-0 stalemate at St Mary's.
Betting
North End are 11/4 to take the spoils, QPR are priced at Evens whilst a draw is 12/5. Why not take a chance on a scorecast, for example, Billy Jones to score first and Preston to win 2-0 is a whopping 430/1. All prices are with North End's official betting partner, pnebetting.co.uk
Listen Live
Join us on Whites World from 2.30pm where Matt Morris and Robert Urbani will provide all the big match build-up, with Matt Hardman taking over moments before kick-off to provide exclusive full match commentary. Whites World is available now from just £3.99 per month, meaning you can follow North End from anywhere on the globe. Don't forget to send your thoughts and opinions on the game to matchday@pne.com.
