Meet the opposition | Queens Park Rangers
As Swansea City get set to host Queens Park Rangers at the Swansea.com Stadium, we take a closer look at the history, form and key men for the Rs.
What's their story?
As is perhaps indicated by their name, Rangers played home matches at as many as 20 grounds between their formation in 1886 and finally settling at Loftus Road in 1917.
Three years later, in 1920, they joined the Football League and they achieved their highest league finish in the 1975-76 season when they were confirmed as First Division runners-up. This earned them a place in the Uefa Cup the following year where they reached the quarter-finals; their best run in a European competition.
Other achievements include lifting the League Cup in 1967 and reaching the FA Cup final in 1982. They were most recently in the Premier League during the 2014-15 season.
How’s their form?
Very good. They currently sit ninth in the league table following a very convincing win against Hull City on Tuesday evening.
As well as draws with Sunderland and Rotherham and a narrow defeat to Blackpool, they have registered eye-catching victories over promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough and Watford
Their 12 goals in seven league games makes them one of the most prolific attacking sides in the league. So far this term.
Who’s the gaffer?
Michael Beale. The former Aston Villa assistant coach left his role at the Midlands club to take on the head coach role at QPR, following the departure of Mark Warburton at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.
QPR represents his first senior head coach role, having previously worked as an assistant at Sao Paulo, Glasgow Rangers and then Villa. He also held coaching roles in Chelsea and Liverpool’s academies ranging from under-nine to under-23 level.
It was at Liverpool that he met Steven Gerrard, eventually following the former Liverpool captain to both Glasgow and Birmingham before taking his current role in London.
Who’s the captain?
Stefan Johansen. The 31-year-old was handed the armband after making the permanent switch to west London at the start of the 2021-22 season. The former Norway skipper began his career at FK Bodo and made his debut aged 16. He later moved to Stromsgodset IF before switching to the UK and signing for Celtic, where he won three league titles
He went on to move south of the boarder to join Fulham, making more than 100 appearances and being part of two promotions to the Premier League. He had loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and then QPR before making a permanent move to Loftus Road.
Who are the key men?
Belgium-born Morocco international, Ilias Chair began his senior career with Lierse making his first appearance at the age of 17. Two years later, in 2017, he completed a successful trial at QPR and signed permanently in January.
He has made more than 150 appearances in QPR colours. He adds creativity and firepower to Beale’s side so far contributing with three goals and three assists.
Standing at 6ft 4in, Swiss-born Senegalese goalkeeper Seny Dieng is an imposing figure in the QPR goal, and has proven himself to be a key performer for the London side since taking the number one spot during the 2020-21 season. He was named players’ player of the year last season.
He was part of the African Cup of Nations winning Senegal side, starting the first two games of the tournament due to Chelsea’s Édouard Mendy producing a positive Covid test.
The 27-year-old has been on the scoresheet this season after heading in a dramatic late equaliser against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Defender Jimmy Dunne, a Manchester United academy product, joined Burnley’s youth set-up in 2016. He progressed to the senior team a year later and enjoyed successful loans at a series of club’s before moving to QPR permanently in 2021.
The centre-back earned plenty of plaudits during his first season at Loftus Road and has been a key figure so far this season, and has already chipped in with a goal.