From the vault: Opponents in focus - QPR

Another of Pompey's no power championship opponents will be QPR, so they are next to come under the microscope as PFC-Jono has a look at them - we revisit this ahead of the meeting tomorrow...

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QPR, Queens Park Rangers, the R's or the Hoops, these are many names this club can be known as. The West London side founded in 1882 honours include winning the League Cup in 1967, and being runners-up in the old First Division in 1975-76 and FA Cup in 1982. In 2007 QPR were taken over by Italian tycoon Flavio Briatore whom promised to pump money necessary to get QPR into the Premiership. But his ambition has not yet had much success, but with Neil Warnock at the helm they are consider among the favourites for promotion.

Head to Head:
Pompey haven't faced the Londoners since the 2000/01 season when the sides played out 1-1 draws at both Fratton Park and Loftus Road. With Pompey's last victory against QPR was back in August 1998 when goals from John Aloisi, Alan McLoughlin and Martin Phillips sealed a 3-0 triumph.

League Standings last 5 years:
2009/10 - 13th Championship
2008/09 - 11th Championship
2007/08 - 14th Championship
2006/07 - 18th Championship
2005/06 - 21st Championship

Fixture Dates:
Pompey v QPR: Tuesday, November 9
QPR v Pompey: Tuesday, February 1

Man in Charge:
Neil Warnock, known for many right reasons also he's known for many wrong reasons as well. The right reasons is his success as a manager being very successful with almost all his clubs and the wrong reasons is his famous temperament which he has caused many rows over the years the likes of Rafa Benitez and Joe Kinnear. The former Sheffield United and Crystal Palace manager has also played for teams such as Hartlepool United and Scunthorpe United in a very successful footballing career spanning nearly fifty years.

Key Player:
Paddy Kenny: Despite only signing for QPR he should prove a key player in QPR's promotion push, keeping many clean sheets and winning many points. The Irish man has had very little experience at international level only appearing 7 times as his rival for the number 1 shirt is the world class Shay Given. Kenny caused plenty of controversy only a few weeks after signing a contract extension at his former club as it was reported that Kenny had failed a drug test after the previous season's Championship play-off semi final. He tested positive for ephedrine, a banned substance, believed to have been contained in a cough medicine he bought over the counter. Following an FA hearing in September 2009, he was banned from all professional football for 9 months. But now Paddy is back and raring to start the season and provide QPR with many of his match winning performances which proved essential for Sheffield United over the 8 years he was there.

Written by PFC-Jono.

The views within this article are the views of the individual who wrote and submitted this piece, sometimes solely theirs. They are not necessarily shared by the Vital Pompey Site Journalists.

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