2011-12 EPL Preview: Stoke City Vs QPR

Britannia Stadium will witness Premier League action on Saturday 19 November 2011 when Stoke City host QPR in week 12 of the game.

Stoke City is coming off a humiliating loss away from home at Bolton in match week 11. The visitors were totally outmaneuvered when Davies gave the hosts an early lead in 2 minutes. The teams entered the break, with Bolton leading 2-0, with a second goal, in the 23rd minute, from the Eagles. Bolton, who lost to Stoke in the FA Cup semi-finals last year, took revenge as the Eagles scored another goal in the second half, and Kalsnic also helped himself with a double. The Europa League midweek game in Israel would have had a grueling effect on the Potters, who will seek to amend the QPR.

QPR went down fighting, losing 3-2 to table leaders Manchester City in a home game, at Loftus Road, in match week 11. QPR became the first team to take a lead against City, this season, when Bothroyd put them ahead on 28 minutes. City tied the score through Dzeko 13 minutes later and the teams went into halftime, with the score tied at 1-1. Silva put City ahead in the 7th minute of the second half, but QPR still hadn’t given up, and in the 69th minute, Helguson made it 2-2 for the hosts. Y Touré’s header in the 74th minute proved decisive for City, and QPR were left to ruin a missed opportunity to score a point when Helguson’s shot, eight minutes from time, hit the crossbar.

Head to head, over the past 10 years, Stoke City and QPR have met in 10 league games, both teams winning four apiece, with the remaining two games tied. The last time these teams met was in March 2008, that match organized by QPR was won 3-0 by the Loftus Road team.

Stoke City won 3, lost 5 and tied the remaining 2 of their last 10 league games, while QPR won 3, tied 3 and lost 4 of their last 10.

Currently 12th in the league table, the Potters have hosted 5 home games this season, winning and drawing 2 each, while losing the remaining game; QPR, which is ranked 11th, has had 2 wins and 3 losses in its 5 away games.

Stoke City’s starting eleven vs. Bolton: Begovic, Wilkinson, Woodgate, Upson, Huth, Pennant, Delap, Whelan, Walters, Crouch, Jerome

QPR starting XI against Manchester City: Kenny, Young, Gabbidon, Ferdinand, Traore, Mackie, Barton, Faurlin, Wright-Phillips, Bothroyd, Helguson