Filed under: QPR, Cardiff, Championship, Football, Match Previews
CHAMPIONSHIP: CARDIFF CITY STADIUM, SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1245 BSTQPR manager Neil Warnock's mantra all season has been "enjoy it". After every emphatic win, even following the rare defeats, he has said these two words at every media gathering.
And if they win at Cardiff and other results go their way, Warnock and his players will certainly party - because it would mean promotion to the top flight is confirmed.
Warnock is clearly enjoying life at the top of the Championship. He relishes every challenge and even when Rangers' backs are against the wall during games he tells his players to carry on attacking. Most of the time it works.
But Cardiff will be doing their best to ensure the champagne stays unopened for at least a couple of days - and it has nothing to do with wanting to spoil the Hoops' party.
The Bluebirds are firmly focused on reclaiming second spot from upstarts Norwich - the last thing fans from the Valleys will want is another play-off campaign, after last year's heartache.
And manager Dave Jones has paraphrased Warnock's favourite saying by telling his players to relax - because as his opposite number at QPR knows, life is fun at the top.
KEY MATCH-UP: Craig Bellamy v Alejandro Faurlin. Bellamy has scored just once in the last 13 games and he is unlikely to get much change out of defensive-minded midfielder Faurlin, whose incisive tackles are excellent in breaking up play.
FORM GUIDE: Cardiff have lost at home just once since November and are on a four-game winning run, in which they have scored 12 goals. QPR have kept clean sheets in four of their last five matches but have won one in their last three.
ODDS: Cardiff 5-4, Draw 9-4, QPR 11-5.
CARDIFF CITY:
The fact QPR are eight points clear of Cardiff makes no odds to Bluebirds manager Jones - because he believes the pressure is all on his opponents.
Many may point to Norwich's emphatic win over Ipswich on Thursday night which sent them into second place and suggest that has placed the onus on Jones to conjure a win over the league leaders.
But Jones reckons Warnock is feeling the heat in the opposition dugout and said: "If we win on Saturday the pressure is on them just as much as us and everybody else who is chasing them.
"We're doing it for us, for our own reasons - we want to do well for this club. He has to win it because we are breathing down his neck. Neil forgets about that.
"They haven't won it yet. If we can get the result on Saturday the pressure is on them with three games to go as much as anyone else.
"He'll want to be successful as much as I do. That is what keeps driving you on."
Strategy: Cardiff attacking trio Peter Whittingham, Bellamy and Jay Bothroyd often come in from wide positions and they will exploit this in possession as QPR tend to play a narrow formation, playing through the spine of Derry and Taarabt.
Injury update: Bothroyd has overcome a groin injury and will start, while goalkeeper Tom Heaton could also return.
QPR:
Playmaker Adel Taarabt is predicting a goal-fest in Wales. With the stakes so high for both sides, some would presume that the match will be a cagey affair.
Not Taarabt, who comes into his own when given space to roam. He knows that a draw would do Cardiff no good in their own race for promotion, so is expecting an open affair.
The Moroccan said: "I'm looking forward to it. As a player, these are the types of games that you want to play in.
"It's on TV, it's first against second and it's going to be a big game. I expect it to be an open game. Every team we have left to play needs to win. I don't think they are going to defend, they need to score goals."
His manager Warnock agrees,adding: "They've got the best forwards in the Championship. There's no chance of Cardiff putting ten men behind the ball and going for a point is there? I like pitting my wits against good sides and Cardiff are certainly that, so it should be a great game."
Strategy: While the free-roaming Taarabt grabs the headlines, Warnock has the luxury of a six-man defence, with a solid back four - Scunthorpe two weeks ago notwithstanding - and the tough-tackling pair of Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin in front of them.
Injury update: Fitz Hall is set to return, while defender Kaspars Gorkss, who required stitches in his head after running into a TV camera in Monday's game against Derby, has been passed fit.
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