Big Match Preview: QPR home

MEET THE GAFFER - IAN HOLLOWAY

The man synonymous with Bristol Rovers marked a year in charge of QPR in November.

He steered the R's to 18th in the Championship last season, just one place behind City.

He began and ended his playing career with Rovers, enjoying spells at Brentford, AFC Wimbledon, Torquay and QPR during the 80s and 90s.

The 54-year-old manager is now into his second spell as QPR boss.

His management career also includes Millwall, Crystal Palace, Blackpool, Plymouth and Leicester.

STAR MAN - LUKE FREEMAN

A familiar face in BS3, the former Arsenal academy player left Greater London when the opportunity for permanent first-team football arrived at Stevenage Town.

Two years after making the move a few miles north, he joined Bristol City where he went on to score 10 goals in more than 100 appearances over two-and-a-half seasons, including playing his part in the 2014/15 double-winning campaign.

Since his move to QPR in January, he has gone on to score five goals including three this season. He has also contributed to an impressive nine assists and has been singled out as one to watch at the Gate.

MEMORABLE FIXTURE - BRISTOL CITY 2-1 QPR

Saturday, October 1st 2016
City: Marlon Pack 14, Jamie Paterson 40.
QPR: Idrissa Sylla 90+6

Goals from Marlon Pack and Jamie Paterson ensured back-to-back victories for Lee Johnson's side as they continued their battle to steer away from relegation last season.

For City, it marked a third successive home victory and they were good value for their three points.City would have to wait only 14 minutes to make the breakthrough.

After a corner from the right was taken short, Matty Taylor teed up Pack to dispatch the bouncing ball with a clean strike that zipped into the bottom corner of the net for the midfielder’s first goal since September.

City had produced some good stuff and a 2-0 half-time lead was hardly undeserved. That’s exactly what they had when Taylor led a quick counter-attack, ignoring the offside Tammy Abraham in favour of the onside Paterson, who took the ball in his stride and stroked in his second goal in as many games with his left foot.

Substitute Sylla pulled one back in the fifth minute of added time.

The result would leave City three points behind QPR in the Championship table.

AND FINALLY...

Officials
Referee: Keithe Stroud
Matt Foley and Billy Smallwood
Fourth Official: Andy Woolmer

Betting (via SkyBet)
City 17/20
Draw 13/5
QPR 3/1