Crystal Palace Look at QPR

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QPR play Crystal Palace at Loftus Road tomorrow (December 4).An away win?!

Crystal Palace Official Site - Coming Next : QPR
Posted on: Mon 03 Dec 2007

While Palace have won twice and drawn once since they hosted QPR just over three weeks ago, tomorrow's opponents have struggled.

Palace were second-best for much of the November 10 Selhurst encounter, but a late equaliser by Clinton Morrison rescued a point for the home side.

The goal marked something of a turning point, both for Palace and Morrison, with the striker grabbing five goals in four games in a six-game unbeaten run for Neil Warnock's men.

QPR, under Luigi De Canio, followed a goalless home draw against Sheffield Wednesday with away defeats at the hands of Stoke and Blackpool.

Saturday's Bloomfield Road rehearsal was a bitter pill to swallow as it arrived courtesy of a last-minute goal by the home side's Ben Burgess, echoing Morrison in the late goal stakes.

However, on this occasion it was only the inspired form of goalkeeper Lee Camp that kept the score level for so long.

Lee didn't deserve to be on the losing side today," said De Canio after the match. "I was disappointed with the performance of the players this afternoon. Blackpool prevented us from playing the way we would have liked.

"They were very aggressive, and the conditions here were less than ideal. The swirling wind in some aspects stopped us from doing what we do best.

"It is disappointing to concede in the last minute yet again but we must regroup, get our heads up and be ready for our match against Crystal Palace on Tuesday night."

If De Canio is in need of something to kick-start his Rangers reign, that may have arrived yesterday afternoon when his men were given a plum FA Cup Third Round draw at fellow west Londoners' Chelsea.

Camp said: "It is without doubt the tie all the fans were looking for." In the short term, however, Rangers supporters will settle for an improved performance against Palace tomorrow night.

QPR striker Dexter Blackstock serves the second of a three-game ban and defender Michael Mancienne (hamstring) is a doubt for the game. Crystal Palace