QPR once again go in search of their first FA Cup win in 11 years when MK Dons visit Loftus Road for a Third Round replay on Tuesday night.

QPR v MK Dons

FA Cup Third Round Replay >>> Tuesday January 17, 2011 >>> Kick Off 8pm >>> Loftus Road, London, W12 >>> Live on ITV4

I don’t think it’s unfair to say that QPR need this fixture about as much as Lisa Riley needs another bacon sandwich.

Although this replay does mean that Joey Barton will be available for the crucial weekend fixture with Wigan it’s an absolute ball ache in every possible other way. Having played just 48 hours ago at the other end of the country I think playing this game means that Mark Hughes will possibly only have two full training sessions before that match which may negate the effect of Barton’s return somewhat. Hughes likes things done in a certain way, and players must buy into what he and his coaches want from them, so time taken away from the training ground is not time well spent. This week Hughes would probably like to be training, or negotiating transfers, not preparing for this.

And less we forget that even achieving the bloody replay in the first place cost us the services of our Player of the Year in waiting Alejandro Faurlin who was stretchered from the field at Milton Keynes last week with ruptured knee ligaments.

I’ve never bought into the idea that a cup run is a bad thing that automatically denigrates the league form, and given that the Premiership title is beyond the reach of all but a handful of clubs it drives me crazy to see clubs that are only ever going to get silverware by winning a cup competition casually tossing away their places in them every season. But I don’t mind admitting that I’m already sick of this bloody third round tie, and we’re only halfway through it.

Even if Hughes was minded to just throw out a team of kids and not care too much about the result, QPR’s long run of ten games without a victory may make him think twice. We need a victory, any victory at all, particularly at home. If only to remind the players what it feels like, to boost the confidence of the players who score the goals, to just improve the mood slightly. Perhaps more to the point, QPR need a win because they don’t need another defeat. They don’t need a “can’t even beat a League One side” cloud of misery gathering over them ahead of a massive match at the weekend.

We can’t forfeit this match so let’s try and use it as a positive. A win here, a win against Wigan at the weekend, and suddenly we’re riding a Mark Hughes shaped wave of optimism into a highly charged home fixture with Chelsea. Imagine how much the mood would improve if we won that as well.

I’m sorry, that’s the very definition of getting carried away. A win here, even a scrappy one, would be QPR’s first in this competition for 11 years. You don’t accumulate a record like that over such a long period of time by making light work of evenings like this. And whatever happens, ‘light work’ isn’t a term I expect to be writing in the match report this time tomorrow.

Links >>> MK 1 QPR 1 Match Report >>> Opposition Focus >>> Original Match Preview

This Tuesday

Team News: Mark Hughes has an admirable record in the FA Cup as both a player, three times a winner, and a manager, twice a semi-finalist with Blackburn. Whether he’ll be placing much importance on the competition for QPR initially given our league position remains to be seen – we’ll know when we see the starting 11 on Tuesday night. Alejandro Faurlin is out for the rest of the season and Joey Barton serves the final match of his three game ban.

Elsewhere: If you’re wondering why on earth this match has been chosen for television coverage, a quick glance down the list of games that went to replays should probably provide you with an answer. Eye catching matches are thin on the ground. Leicester v Forest, an East Midlands derby between two of the Championship’s surprise strugglers, is the standout fixture while Wolves and Birmingham will hopefully serve up something better than the dirge they produced first time around. Non-league Wrexham host Championship Brighton hoping to finish the job on their upset and win a televised game against Newcastle. Bolton will surely finish off Macclesfield at the second attempt, and you’d think Dagenham have probably missed their chance against Millwall as well.

Referee: Premiership referee Phil Dowd is the man in the middle for this game, his second visit to Loftus Road this season. Previously he took charge of our 0-0 home draw against Newcastle in September, and my how the mood and form of the players has changed since then. For Dowd’s full case file please click here.

Form

QPR: The numbers are certainly not making pretty reading for QPR fans at the moment. Into the bottom three for the first time since August this weekend, with just four wins in 23 matches in all competitions and only one of them at home. They haven’t won an FA Cup game for 11 years, and were knocked out of the League Cup earlier this season by another League One side Rochdale. They haven’t won in ten matches (three draws) and have won only once in 13 (nine defeats).

MK Dons: The Dons controversially lost their weekend match against Carlisle to a frozen pitch at very late notice after failing to take adequate note of the cold weather. That means they haven’t played since drawing with us ten days ago. They have scored in all but one of their last 13 matches and only three other clubs, including the two Manchester giants, have scored more goals than them in the league this season - 48. They currently sit fifth in League One and have only lost once at home all season, to Preston. They have won six of their 12 home matches this season but have never reached the FA Cup fourth round and could face Chelsea with a victory here. They reached this stage of the competition with a 3-1 win at Barnet and a 6-0 home win against Nantwich in the previous rounds. They have lost just one of their last 11 matches and scored 32 goals in those matches – QPR have scored 12 in their last 11 games by way of comparison. They have won nine, and drawn two of their last 12 matches.

Prediction: QPR desperately need a win just to breathe some confidence back into a demoralised squad. Everybody has something to prove for the new manager again so although I expect plenty of changes to the team but I’m expecting an improved performance and, strike me down, a victory. It will be scrappy and not great to watch but I think we may finally manage one here.

QPR 2-0, 17/2 with William Hill

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Photo: Action Images

eastside_r added 01:00 - Jan 17 Impossible to predict this one; any thing from a collapse and Wednesday's back page headlines, an easy win with the ******* to follow or more likely a tense affair at an anxious LR. But hey! Isn't this what supporting your team is all about?
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MelakaRanger added 04:38 - Jan 17 Having supported QPR since the '67 season I have seen everything! I have a sneaky feeling that this is going to be a thumping win for us. After Staurdays performance I suspect the riot act has been read to most of the players. This will be the last chance of many to save their careers with us. Hence if they dont perform at the highest level tonight, they know they will be out. My prediction (hold on I will just put my wine glass down - it is lunch time you know) is a 5-2 win

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adhoc_qpr added 09:53 - Jan 17 I think we will put out a strong team and win. If we play like we did against Newcastle, we should probably overcome lower league opposition. The only player i would definately rest is HH, it's more important to play him on Saturday. Give Macheda a chance in a 4-4-2 with Bothroyd and see what he can do. If we do end up picking up another serious injury, we'll know we are genuinely cursed this season!

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qprmick added 10:10 - Jan 17 I can see a weakened team, that will ensure MH and his team can work on the others for the rest of the week, he doesn't have much time and to sacrifice a Cup run is on the cards. I dunno what the owners will think of that but we should be able to put out a team that can beat MK Dons.
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RangerKIK added 11:51 - Jan 17 Please God let us win this one!! Please!! Just to boost what little confidence we have left. Wilkins increasingly annoying commentaries still, every now and again, have a moment of true wisdom about them. Commentating on Sunday's game at Newcastle he said 'play the odds'. Exactly. If you don't shoot you will never get a rebound back off the keeper. If you don't try and take on a defender in the box you will never get a penalty......etc, etc. At least we did shoot a bit more Sun but SWP had so many oppertunities to take on the defender in the box and did not do it once. Tonight is the perfect oppertunity to say to the team 'go out and enjoy yourselves and get the bloody shackles off!' Please God.......

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themodfather added 12:08 - Jan 17 with so little interest here , we could get rolled over...live on tv helps them imo. they will have 2000+ motivated fans and we'll have 7000 looking at watches.... come 10pm and maybe qpr mbs go into meltdown as they lifelongs come out for chelsea tkts....or meltdown cos we are not good,rubbish,sack all etc....it's 50/50!!
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Monahoop added 13:20 - Jan 17 I've no idea what kind of a team MH will put out tonight. He could field a team of whores, villains and vagabonds picked off the streets for all I care, so long as they do the job and beat Franchise. It will bring a much needed smile to my face and a much needed tonic for the hooped troops before commencing battle with Wigan on Saturday. Just one measly home win since April 4th [my birthday]. That really is a pathetic statistic for a team with ambition. Let's turn it round fast, starting tonight.

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RBLOCKPAT added 17:55 - Jan 17 Blimey reading you lot I might just go and borrow someones Smiths album and go in a dark room, come on get up for the team guys, times smell exciting and cant wait till we start banging them in again, got to believe in the club and what they are trying to achieve, I am right behind them come on you rrrrrs!
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snanker added 23:02 - Jan 17 From the match reports I have read we were very average ( MKD 56% possession ! ?) but the cliche a win is a win is a win will do but to rely on our center half scoring his first goal in 7 years mumma mia ! The starting line up was as u called it adhoc and I wonder if Macheda gave us anything ? Now for some rest and recovery before taking this win into the Wigan game. As NW said we need a bit of good fortune to help the confidence and turn things around. With this result taking us through to a bumper tie against Chelski let's hope its the catalyst we need to pick up some points where it matters !

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jo_qpr63 added 01:30 - Jan 18 snacker- Macheda gave us nothing, just moaned. although standard wasnt great he diddnt do much,even when bothroyd was playing on the wings he wasnt even in the box to receive crosses.No cutting edge, to slow, by the time we had players up round the box(not in the box!) MKdons had 11 behind ball. Just pleased to get win, but without the momenton of last season i worry. Feel for Buz had a good game again. SWP hasnt got the finish we need, never has , worked hard though. We have a bad reputation because of the Briatore/Ecclestone years and i think we are going to pay for it with the cost of players to bring in .Why cant we sell players?

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Doughnut added 09:11 - Jan 18 Both teams very evenly matched....which speaks volumes! Again, Bothroyd & Macheda both irrelevant. Mackie & SWP Lots of effort, but little bite. Slip-ups from Derry which, on Saturday, will see us conceding. But a Win thank goodness!! Hopefully onwards and upwards!
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