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Old 02-10-2005, 15:58
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Re: English Championship 30th/1st/3rd

I'm having some of the 2.64 on Betfair for QPR to beat Palace.

Qpr good at home, Palace not good away and AJ injured.

From Palace's offical site:

IAIN Dowie is again likely to be without the services of the injured quintet of Mikele Leigertwood (ankle), Aki Riihilahti (back), Tony Popovic (calf), Danny Granville and Andy Johnson (both knee) for the visit to Loftus Road. All five could return, however, for the trip to Coventry's Ricoh Arena on October 15.

QPR's start to the season has largely mirrored that of the Eagles, with four wins, four losses and four draws from their opening 12 league and cup games.

Ian Holloway's men remain the only side in the division to have beaten runaway leaders Sheffield United, and they also fared better against Palace's opening day conquerors Luton, whom they disposed of 2-1.

But sandwiched between these two results was a Carling Cup humbling at the hands of lowly Northampton, and also a heavy loss at Coventry.

Goalscoring has not been a problem for Rangers - Holloway is able to call on the services of the prolific quartet of Paul Furlong, Kevin Gallen, Dean Sturridge and Stefan Moore, older brother of Aston Villa's Luke - but keeping clean sheets has proved more problematic.

The opposition's ranks will be swelled by a few faces familiar to Palace players - Steve Lomas and Richard Langley both briefly trained with the Eagles squad before making the move across the capital to west London.

This week the Rangers midfield engine room was again reinforced with the acquisition on loan of West Brom's Lloyd Dyer.

Speaking at his weekly press conference, Iain Dowie said: "I've seen QPR play a couple of times this season, and they're a strong side. They've brought in a few new players including Marc Nygaard, who built up a good reputation in Italy. They've also got Steve Lomas and Richard Langley who we know about, and have just got Lloyd Dyer on loan. So we know we'll be in for a tough time, because they've got some good players. It's Kevin Gallen's testimonial this season, and he's been a fantastic servant for the club over the years. He normally partners Paul Furlong up front, so we know we'll have to be on our guard.

"I've got fond memories of the place, even though it didn't really work out for me on the playing side. It was a tough time for us under Ray Harford, which is a shame because he's a fantastic coach. But I cut my teeth in coaching there under Gerry Francis, who I've got the ultimate regard for. There aren't many managers in QPR's history with better records than him. When Ian came in I left because he wanted his own men around, which was understandable. But I had a great time at Loftus Road, and always look forward to going back."

A win for Dowie's side would see them leapfrog QPR in the table, and also break the Eagles' away day hoodoo. The Eagles manager is likely to name an unchanged side from the one which beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0, with Emmerson Boyce again pressed into service at left-back and Marco Reich and Jobi McAnuff operating on the flanks.
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