The Pre-Match Warm Up
Friday 13th April 2007
by Ron Norris & Simon Skinner |
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Rangers MEET SUNDERLAND
After the euphoria of the Easter
fixtures, Rangers now face the daunting prospect of visiting the Stadium
of Light to face a bang in form Sunderland. Will we provide the shock
result of the weekend? |
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Match Preview |
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Sunderland v Queens
Park Rangers
The Championship
Saturday 14th April 2007
Kick Off 15:00 |
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TEAM NEWS |
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John Gregory will be hoping to welcome Martin Rowlands back
to the side to compensate for the loss of fractured fibula victim Gareth
Ainsworth. He is probably touch and go though and my money is on him not
playing. Mancienne should be back after a touch of concussion but Lee Cook
is likely to be sidelined once more after tweaking knee ligaments. Idiakez
is also rated doubtful with his minor hamstring strain that has now been
extended to the usual length of minor hamstring strains at Rangers, too
bloody long!
Keano doesn’t have any issues aside from what quality
players to play! Dean Whitehead could only make the bench at Southampton
despite the fact he would walk into most midfields in this division and a
few in the one above! He may return instead of Dwight Yorke. Stephen Elliott
and Stern John are vying for a spot up top. |
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A QUICK GUIDE TO OUR OPPONENTS |
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SUNDERLAND IN
BRIEF |
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When Quinny and his disco pants decided a move upstairs was
best for all concerned they brought Roy Keane in and a few
eyebrows were raised. They needn’t have been though as Keane the
manager seems to have the same steely determination as Keane the
player. They have progressed steadily up the table and now find
themselves perched atop it as we approach the vinegar strokes. |
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TOP SCORERS |
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Name |
FLC |
FAC |
LC |
Total |
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David Connolly |
11 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
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Darryl Murphy |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
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Grant Leadbitter |
6 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
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Ross Wallace |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
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Stephen Elliot |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
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LAST FIVE
GAMES |
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Date |
Versus |
Venue |
F |
A |
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09/04/07 |
Southampton |
Away |
2 |
1 |
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07/04/07 |
Wolves |
Home |
2 |
1 |
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31/03/07 |
Cardiff |
Away |
1 |
0 |
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17/03/07 |
Hull |
Home |
2 |
0 |
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13/03/07 |
Stoke |
Home |
2 |
2 |
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CLASH OF THE
DAY |
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Dean Whitehead v Adam Bolder. The Sunderland skipper looks
a cert. to return for this one and Bolder will need to be on his
mettle to cope with a fine box to box midfielder. He can score a
goal, make a goal and stop a goal and is one of the best The
Championship has to offer. If Bolder can put the shackles on him
we might stand a fighting chance. |
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RANGERS VERSUS ..... |
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LAST TIME OUT |
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Queens Park Rangers 1 - 2
Sunderland
Tuesday 28th November 2006 |
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“Ross Wallace pierced the R’s defence with a terrific pass
and Grant Leadbitter’s run married up with it perfectly. He went
one on one with Royce and with some great close control, sat the
R’s keeper on his backside before rolling the ball into the
empty net.” |
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HEAD TO HEAD |
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Overall |
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Played |
QPR |
Sunderland |
Draws |
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26 |
10 |
10 |
6 |
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At Sunderland |
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Played |
QPR |
Sunderland |
Draws |
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13 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
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LEAGUE
STANDINGS |
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Pos |
Team |
P |
GD |
Pts |
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1st |
Sunderland |
42 |
24 |
79 |
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18th |
QPR |
42 |
-12 |
49 |
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OTHER MEETINGS |
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It is tight in the head to head between the two sides with
Rangers having ten league wins to Sunderland’s nine. Rangers
have only played once at the Stadium of Light and that ended in
a 2-2 draw thanks to Goal of the Season from Furs and a
contender for Goal of the Season from Rowly. Rangers’ last win
at Sunderland came in April 1991 when Andy Tillson scored the
only goal in a 1-0 win at Roker Park. |
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GENERAL INFORMATION |
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THE REFEREE |
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Mike Jones is in charge for this one and many will remember
him for sending Stefan Bailey off in the FA Cup replay at Luton.
That was a harsh decision and he was rank bad for much of the
game. He has booked a pencil bluntening 136 in 36 games and sent
10 off. Expect no help from the lino’s and 4th
official who come from Co. Durham, Northumberland and Tyne &
Wear. That seems fair doesn’t it! |
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THE REF RECORD |
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Season |
Games |
Yellows |
Reds |
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2006-07 |
36 |
136 |
10 |
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2005-06 |
39 |
109 |
5 |
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2004-05 |
37 |
88 |
7 |
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2003-04 |
33 |
103 |
8 |
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QPR CONNECTIONS |
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Richard Ord is held in high regard at Sunderland and is
often credited as being the heart of the team that came close to
promotion in that thrilling Play Off against Charlton.
Dickie organised the post match piss up apparently to drown
sorrows and lift the morale. He joined Rangers for close on £1m,
knackered his cruciate ligament in his first pre season game at
Aylesbury and never played a game in anger. |
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RON AND SIMON'S PREDICT-OFF |
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SIMON:
Rangers have performed well this season when playing teams
in the higher echelons of the league. Cardiff, West Brom and Derby have all
had an eye opener against the R’s and there is every chance the same will
happen on Saturday. Keano has got his men in fine fettle though and this
will be tough, even for a side in good form. I think we will make things
tough but I don’t see us stopping Sunderland’s progress to The Premiership.
2-1 to Sunderland.
RON:
A few months back we travelled away to the league leaders for an equally
tough looking game, we came away from Cardiff with all three points thanks
to a 1-0 win. Can we really do the same again against Sunderland? Nah I
don't so, the improvement over recent games has been fantastic and it's
clear this team will never give up or lie down for anyone but Sunderland
look to be a class apart and this is going to be a tough afternoon. 2-0 to
Sunderland.
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Current score: Ron 28 Simon 25 |
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