Meet the opposition: QPR
As Swansea City get set to welcome Queens Park Rangers to the Liberty on Saturday (3pm), we take a closer look at the men from Loftus Road.
Who are they?
QPR were a part of the Premier League in its formative years before suffering relegation in the 1995-96 season.
They have had two stints in the top flight in recent years, most recently in 2014-15.
But having secured promotion the previous season, they went straight back down after finishing bottom of the table.
Their most successful Premier League campaign was 1992-93, when they managed a fifth-placed finish under Gerry Francis.
Les Ferdinand, Ray Wilkins, Ian Holloway and former Swans goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts were in the squad at the time.
Their recent successes include winning the Championship in the 2010-11 season – the same year in which the Swans secured Premier League promotion – and winning the Championship play-off final in 2013-14.
Last season they finished 16th in the second tier.
How’s their form?
QPR endured a difficult start to this Championship campaign, losing their first four league games.
But Rangers then banked 10 points from the next 12 on offer as they beat Wigan, Bolton and Millwall and drew at Birmingham.
There was a setback last time out, though, as they went down 1-0 at home against Norwich.
Who’s their boss?
Steve McClaren. The former England boss returned to management in May when he was unveiled as Ian Holloway’s successor.
He had a stint as a coaching consultant at Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv last season having left Derby in March 2017.
Earlier in his career, McClaren spent time as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant manager at Manchester United, playing a role in the club’s famous treble-winning season, 1998-99.
McClaren’s first managerial post was at Middlesbrough, while he endured a turbulent spell as England’s main man between 2006 and 2007.
He later coached Dutch club FC Twente (twice) and German outfit Wolfsburg, as well as having spells at Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.
Who are the key men?
Youth product Joe Lumley is set to be in goal for Rangers having taken the shirt from Matt Ingram earlier this season.
Swans legend Angel Rangel has impressed since coming into the Rangers side a little over a month ago.
He hopes to feature in a defence which is likely to include one-cap Wales international Joel Lynch and Toni Leistner, an experienced summer signing from Union Berlin.
On-loan Stoke man Geoff Cameron, who can play in defence or midfield, is another option for McClaren.
Attacking midfielder Ebere Eze, 20, has been earning rave reviews for his performances so far this season, and leads the club scoring charts with three.
Luke Freeman is another Rangers player with plenty of admirers.
Further forward, recent recruits Nahki Wells and Tomer Hemed have given McClaren a couple of strong options in attack, while Matt Smith is a towering targetman.
Tickets for our home fixture against QPR are available – get yours HERE or call the ticket office on 01792 616400. Watch the game in style in our 1912 Heritage lounge – contact our dedicated hospitality team on 01792 616628 or on hospitality@swanseacity.com
