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RANGERS FACE CHARLTON
Friday 18th April 2008
by Ron Norris & Simon Skinner

Rangers welcome Charlton Athletic to Loftus Road on Saturday for the penultimate home game of the campaign. Whilst the season is practically over for us Charlton need to win every remaining game otherwise they will need Robert Mugabe to count the points if they are to nick the last play off spot.

 

Queens Park Rangers v Charlton Athletic
The Championship
 Saturday 19th April 2008
Kick Off 15:00

 
TEAM NEWS
Rowan Vine is our only major absentee as we go into this one. Vine is sidelined for the rest of the campaign with his broken leg but Patrick Agyemang and Dexter Blackstock look set to continue their strike partnership despite having both limped off against Hull last week. Even better news is the return of Akos Buzsaky who looks set to return to the starting line up after missing the last few with an ankle problem.

Charlton have two definite injury problems with both Lloyd Sam and former R Jerome Thomas ruled out with hamstring problems. Nicky Weaver is available again following suspension and Lee Cook should line up against his old side having started to break his way into the starting eleven over the last couple of fixtures.

RON & SIMON'S
SELECT XI		          
Blackstock Agyemang
Ephraim Mahon Rowlands Buzsaky
  Delaney   Hall   Connolly   Mancienne  
        Camp        
A QUICK GUIDE TO OUR OPPONENTS
 
CHARLTON IN BRIEF: Despite an instant return to The Premier League always being a tough challenge for Charlton I imagine there will be a bit of disappointment amongst The Addicks faithful as to how this season has progressed. Charlton have never really got going and as they approach the final furlong look unlikely to sneak into the play offs this time around.
 

LAST FIVE GAMES
Date Versus Venue F A
12/04/08 Southampton Home 1 1
05/04/0 Plymouth Away 2 1
29/03/08 Wolves Home 2 3
21/03/08 West Brom Home 1 1
15/03/08 Ipswich Away 0 2

TOP SCORERS
Name League Cups Total
C. Iwelumo 10 0 10
D. Ambrose 7 2 9
Z. Zhi 7 2 9
A. Reid 6 1 7
L. Varney 7 0 7
 

CLASH OF THE DAY: Michael Mancienne v Lee Cook: Two players who will know exactly what each other can do are likely to face off against each other down the Loftus Road flanks on Saturday. On his day Cook can turn his full back inside out and whilst Mancienne should know what's coming better than most it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top in this one.

 
RANGERS VERSUS .....
 

LAST TIME OUT: "The Dane was up before Weaver and the Charlton keeper couldn’t get anywhere near it as the ball glanced off Nygaard’s head and dropped to Bolder. The much maligned R’s skipper took a touch off his chest (and a bit of arm from where I was sitting) before calmly volleying into the gaping net." Charlton Athletic 0-1 Queens Park Rangers, Saturday 27th October 2007.
 
HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Played QPR Charlton Draws
61 19 22 20
At QPR
Played QPR Charlton Draws
29 11 8 10
 

OTHER MEETINGS: Charlton edge Rangers in the overall head to head but we have control of things at HQ although things haven't gone our way in recent times. This is actually the first home fixture between the sides for nearly eight years with the last one happening in December 1999 and ending in a 0-0 draw. If we do win on Saturday it'll be the first time we've beaten them at Loftus Road since a 1-0 victory in April 1989.
 

LEAGUE STANDINGS
Pos Team P GD Pts
9th Charlton 43 6 61
14th QPR 43 -2 55
 
GENERAL INFORMATION

THE REFEREE

Whilst he doesn't have one of those instant "fill you with dread" names like Rob Styles or Andy Hall, Trevor Kettle is way up there as one of the worst officials we have ever come across. A card happy, whistle blowing freak he ruins pretty much every game he takes charge of. Just what you need for a blood and thunder London derby!
THE REF RECORD
Season Games Yellows Reds
2007-08 34 136 6
2006-07 40 144 9
2005-06 39 142 12
2004-05 28 87 5
2003-04 28 131 13
 

 
   

OPPONENTS LINKS
Official Website Charlton-Athletic.co.uk
Fans Website Net Addicks
Fans Website Covered End Choir
Message Board Addickted

MATCH DAY ODDS
Bookie QPR Draw Charlton
13/10 11/5 13/8
6/5 11/5 9/5
11/8 11/5 13/8
   
 

SIX DEGREES OF SEP-R-ATION: Gareth Ainsworth to Chris Iwelumo: Ainsworth, along with Lee Camp, is one of only two players left in the squad who was signed by former boss Ian Holloway. Holloway is now manager of Leicester having controversially left Plymouth to replace Gary Megson at The Walkers Stadium. One of Megson's former clubs was West Bromwich Albion, one of his early signings was Jason Koumas who joined from Tranmere Rovers for over two million pounds in 2002. Koumas was a regular team mate at Prenton Park with goalkeeper Steve Simonsen who left Tranmere for Everton in 1998 before moving onto Stoke. In 2007 whilst a Stoke player he conceded a penalty in a 3-1 win over Colchester, the scorer of that spot kick was Chris Iwelumo.
 
RON AND SIMON'S PREDICT-OFF
SIMON: If Rangers are able to muster a striker or two for this one then they have an excellent chance of securing a decent home win, if not it could be tough against a side that is still trying to squeeze into the play offs. Shackling Cook will be vital as we all know how deadly he can be at getting good quality ball into the box. I will take Rangers to pinch this 2-1

RON: You always have to fancy Rangers at home and perhaps even more so in a game where a whole seasons worth of pressure will be sitting on Charlton's shoulders. They have underperformed and will now struggle to make the play offs unless they win pretty much every game remaining and I don't think they will. 2-0 to Rangers.

Current score: Ron 19 Simon 21