Chelsea Preview QPR Game and Recall Past QPR-Chelsea Clashes

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Chelseae Official Site PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: CHELSEA V QUEEN'S PARK RANGERS
It's time to set out on the road to Wembley we travelled all the way last season. Club historian Rick Glanvill and statistician Paul Dutton welcome back a much-missed local derby.
Rick reviews Chelsea and QPR, past, present and future.
Although to visiting supporters this derby is the big one, its vintage is relative new and short-lived.
Chelsea had played west London rivals Brentford and Fulham for decades before meeting Queen's Park Rangers for the first time 40 years ago, and we haven't met hoops in almost 12. Since then at Stamford Bridge the feeling among fans has slipped from 'QP-ha!' to 'QP-who?' That changes this weekend.
To the Shepherd's Bush club's adherents, the intensity of those matches in the Seventies and Eighties - their transient golden age - was a moulding experience. Despite a number of young Blues going to Loftus Road on loan, nothing would mean more to QPR's fans than a success against Chelsea.
It's ironic that having disparaged the Roman Abramovich revolution since 2003, they arrive armed with gibes about being, in the words of Harry Enfield's nouveau-riche Herberts, 'Considerably richer than yow'.
Recent investment from F1 magnates Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briattore and the family of steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal has plucked the club from the jaws of financial disaster, as well as the Championship's bottom rung.
The Sunday Times' 'rich list' has the Mittals at number one and Mr Abramovich second. It's the only table QPR have bettered Chelsea in for as long as anyone cares to remember.
How much the new regime on South Africa Road is interested in the prime real estate of the stadium, and how much they intend to invest in the playing staff are not known at the moment. Recently installed manager Luigi De Canio, 50, speaks little English but has manoeuvred a gradual rise up the table to 18th, and has the scalp of high-flying Watford to his credit.
But the squad needs strengthening and as the transfer window opened, all sorts of lists of supposed targets were appearing on the internet. Somehow, Thursday's new arrival from Wigan, Fitz Hall, was always more likely to be seen at the Harlington training ground than Alessandro Del Piero.
Another injection of cash in west London to revive the old rivalry would be welcome though. QPR lost parity with Chelsea in the 1990s and have struggled ever since. The contrast in fortunes was starkest four seasons ago.
Back then, in a first round replay at Loftus Road, Queen's Park Rangers' Karl Connelly missed a crucial spot-kick and romantically-named UniBond League side Vauxhall Motors dumped Ian Holloway's then Second Division unit out of the FA Cup in front of just 5,300 supporters. (They will bring more fans away this weekend.)
Chelsea dipped out of the same competition four rounds later but to the eventual Premier League winners Arsenal. A 38,000 full house at Highbury witnessed a Reyes brace cancel out Adrian Mutu's opener in a tight game that the Bleus edged. A Jesper Gronkjaer header, wrongly scrubbed out for offside, would have opened the scoring, and Neil Sullivan had to replace injured Carlo Cudicini at 1-1.
Before the first league derby in 1968, QPR were the new boys in top flight football, winless 'tail-end Charlies', bottom of the division. It was an afternoon of growling thunder with a paddy field pitch at Loftus Road, and with more luck Chelsea would have hit double figures rather than just the four without reply.
'A thorough hammering,' thought The Times, and old boy Barry Bridges was well marshalled by Ron Harris.
Several cup ties stand out too. Before the sixth round tie at Loftus Road in late February 1970, Chelsea had injury worries - a friendly against Borough Road Teacher Training College, of all teams, was arranged the Wednesday before and John Dempsey, Harris and Charlie Cooke came through.
Terry Venables had augmented the old boy contingent in Shepherd's Bush and Rangers were ascendant again, but the 'remorseless locomotion' of the visitors and a hat-trick from Peter Osgood brought a 4-2 win to keep things all quiet on the western front.
Inside ten minutes Dave Webb had created and scored the opener, followed by Ossie's first, to ensure fans of Second Division Rangers had a very long afternoon to endure with their stars failing to shine. Rodney Marsh was so deep in Chopper's pocket it was still a surprise to see him turn up on TV's 'I'm A Celebrity' 37 years on.
The tables were turned in 1973/4 in a third round FA Cup tie. Rangers, with Venables skippering, managed a 0-0 draw at the Bridge and won the replay 1-0 after no less than two postponements caused by the waterlogged pitch at Loftus Road. On a surface better suited to straw-hatted donkeys Stan Bowles headed the winner, and left the field to a horizontal ovation - on a stretcher after an inaccurate Ron Harris tackle. Dave Webb had hit the bar for the Blues but the fact was QPR had beaten Chelsea for the first time.
A more long-term worry to Chelsea fans though was the continued absence of star names Alan Hudson and Peter Osgood. Both had been put on the transfer list following bust-ups with manager Dave Sexton.
The gifted Hudson was gone in a month; Osgood, the talisman of the Sixties/Seventies sides, a month later. Their departure was the harbinger of doom for the cash-strapped club, for whom a genuine return to greatness was more than 20 years away.
Although Rangers had the better of exchanges during that period, they have not won at Stamford Bridge in 22 years. That was in late January 1986, a 2-0 second leg League Cup fifth round victory in extra time over a Chelsea side with stocky winger Kevin McAllister deputising for centre-forward Kerry Dixon. They reached the final only to lose to Oxford United, 0-3.
The last time we played each other at all was March 1996 in the Premier League - a 1-1 draw the weekend before a far more important FA Cup semi-final meeting with Manchester United for Glenn Hoddle's men. Within weeks QPR were relegated.
Since then the derby edge has blunted, and it is nice to sharpen it up again at last. Rangers arrive as plucky small fry: they may have a diamond-studded collar, but they're still underdogs.
The last time Chelsea succumbed to lower league opposition in this competition was 13 years ago against Millwall. But with so many injuries, absences and suspensions Chelsea will need to ensure that complacency and the 6,000 hooped fans in the Shed don't prompt an upset.
Rangers' dangerman, top scorer Akos Buzsaky, played at MTK Hungaria in Budapest under Chelsea's current assistant boss Henk ten Cate. Coincidentally, he moved to José Mourinho's Porto, but only played a handful of games before a switch to Plymouth.
His return of six goals in 13 games this season for QPR is easily his career best, approaching his previous total of ten over the previous six campaigns.
But with the cheque books open, who knows what players will be added to the squads in time to feature in this long-awaited, nostalgic clash.

CHELSEA V QUEEN'S PARK RANGERS - Paul Dutton trawls through the third round-related stats.
Chelsea are unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in 53 games in all competitions. Our last defeat came in February 2006 when Barcelona beat us 2-1 in the Champions League.
The last occasion Chelsea lost to a lower division club in the FA Cup was when Millwall beat us on penalties at Stamford Bridge in a fourth round replay in 1995. The results against lower league opposition since then are listed below.
1996 5th Rd Grimsby Town (a) D 0-0, Replay (h) W 4-1
1997 3rd Rd West Bromwich Albion (h) W 3-0
1997 6th Rd Portsmouth (a) W 4-1
1999 3rd Rd Oldham Athletic (a) W 2-0
1999 4th Rd Oxford Utd (a) D 1-1, Replay (h) W 4-2
2000 3rd Rd Hull City (a) W 6-1
2000 4th Rd Nottingham Forest (h) W 2-0
2000 6th Rd Gillingham (h) W 5-0
2001 3rd Rd Peterborough Utd (h) W5-0
2001 4th Rd Gillingham (a) W 4-2
2002 3rd Rd Norwich City (a) D 0-0, Replay (h) W 4-0
2002 5th Rd Preston North End (h) W 3-1
2003 4th Rd Shrewsbury Town (a) W 4-0
2003 5th Rd Stoke City (a) W 2-0
2004 3rd Rd Watford (a) D 2-2 Replay (h) W 4-0
2004 4th Rd Scarborough (a) W 1-0
2005 3rd Rd Scunthorpe United (h) W 3-1
2006 3rd Rd Huddersfield (h) W 2-1
2006 5th Rd Colchester United (h) W 3-1
2007 3rd Rd Macclesfield (h) W 6-1
2007 4th Rd Nottingham Forest (h) W 3-0
2007 5th Rd Norwich City (h) W 4-0

Chelsea are hoping to extend our unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge against QPR to 11 games in all competitions. The full record is played 10, won six, drawn four, lost none, goals scored 15, goals against six. QPR's last victory here was in January 1986 in the League Cup fifth round replay when goals from Alan McDonald and Michael Robinson secured the tie for the visitors.
Chelsea and Rangers are paired together for the fourth occasion in the FA Cup.

Previous FA Cup meetings:

Feb 21 1970 6th round
QPR 2 (Venables pen, Bridges) Chelsea 4 (Webb, Osgood 3)
Jan 5 1974 3rd round
Chelsea 0 QPR 0
Jan 15 1974 3rd round replay
QPR 1 (Bowles) Chelsea 0
Jan 29 1996 4th round
QPR 1 (Quashie) Chelsea 2 (Furlong, Peacock)

The last 10 meetings between Chelsea and QPR:
Apr 18 1992 Div 1 (h) Chelsea won 2-1
Aug 29 1992 FAPL (h) Chelsea won 1-0
Jan 27 1993 FAPL (a) Drew 1-1
Aug 25 1993 FAPL (h) Chelsea won 2-0
Apr 13 1994 FAPL (a) Drew 1-1
Mar 22 1995 FAPL (a) QPR won 1-0
Apr 29 1995 FAPL (h) Chelsea won 1-0
Jan 2 1996 FAPL (a) Chelsea won 2-1
Jan 29 1996 FAC (a) Chelsea won 2-1
Mar 23 1996 FAPL (h) Drew 1-1

Having lost three games in succession a month ago, Rangers have lost only one in the last seven gaining 14 points from a possible 21 and have climbed from bottom (24th) of the Championship up to 18th after the New Year's Day fixtures. A respectable nine points out of 12 were taken from the Christmas programme.
QPR's manager Luigi De Canio's record since his arrival two months ago is played 14, won five, lost five and drawn four.
Chelsea have been beaten twice in 23 games in all competitions under Avram Grant in a run that has seen 16 wins and 15 clean sheets.
Chelsea are unbeaten in the last 43 games in all competitions when scoring the opening goal - 40 wins, three draws. The last occasion was at Tottenham in November 2006.
Rangers have played 27 games in all competitions winning seven, losing 11 and drawing nine. They have scored 31 goals, conceded 40, have kept seven clean sheets and failed to score on seven occasions.
QPR's last six games:
Dec 11 Burnley (a) W 2-0
Dec 15 Wolves (h) D 0-0
Dec 22 Colchester (h) W 2-1
Dec 26 Plymouth (a) L 1-2
Dec 29 Watford (a) W 4-2
Jan 1 Leicester (h) W 3-1
Wednesday's QPR team v Leicester: (4-4-2) Camp, Malcolm, Stewart, Rehman, Barker; Ainsworth (Mahon 67), Bolder (c) (Nygaard 74), Rowlands, Vine; Buzsaky, Blackstock (Walton 90). Their scorers were Stewart (15), Bolder (26) and Blackstock (56).
Rangers scorers this season in all competitions: Buzsaky 6, Stewart 5, Rowlands 4 (2 pens), Vine 4, Blackstock 2, Bolder 2, Ephraim 2, Leigertwood 2, Ainsworth 1, Moore 1, Nygaard 1, Sinclair 1. Total 31.

Chelsea's 53 goals have come from Drogba 9, Lampard 9 (2 pens), Kalou 7, Shevchenko 7 (1 pen), J Cole 5, Alex 3, Essien 3, Malouda 3, Ballack 2 (1 pen), Belletti 1, Pizarro 1, Sidwell 1, Sinclair 1, Wright-Phillips 1.

Chelsea and QPR's last five seasons in the FA Cup
Chelsea:
2002/03 Quarter-final replay - lost 1-3 at home to Arsenal
2003/04 Fifth round - lost 1-2 away to Arsenal
2004/05 Fifth round - lost 0-1 away to Newcastle
2005/06 Semi-final - lost 1-2 to Liverpool at Old Trafford
2006/07 Winners - beat Man Utd 1-0 at Wembley
Queen's Park Rangers
2002/03 First round replay - lost to Vauxhall Motors at home 4-3 on penalties after extra time.
2003/04 First round - lost 0-1 away to Grimsby Town
2004/05 Third round - lost 0-3 at home to Nottingham Forest
2005/06 Third round - lost 0-3 away to Blackburn
2006/07 Third round replay - lost 0-1 away to Luton Town

It's seven years since QPR last reached the fourth round when Arsenal beat them 6-0 at Loftus Road.
Chelsea have won the FA Cup in 1970, 1997, 2000 and 2007 and have been finalists in 1915, 1967, 1994 and 2002.
Rangers have been FA Cup finalists once in their history, losing out 0-1 to Tottenham after a replay in 1982.
Chelsea have played 31 games in all competitions. We have won 19, drawn nine and lost three. We have scored 53 goals, conceded 22 and have kept 17 clean sheets. We have failed to score against Blackburn, Fulham and Valencia at home and away to Arsenal, Aston Villa, Man Utd and Schalke.
Ricardo Carvalho (third of three), Michael Essien (one match for reaching five cautions) and for QPR Mikele Leigertwood are all suspended.
Michael Mancienne, on a year's loan from Chelsea to QPR is ineligible to play.
When fit or free from suspension, Ricardo Carvalho, Frank Lampard and John Terry are all one yellow card away from a one match ban for reaching five bookings.
Frank Lampard is one goal away from becoming Chelsea's eighth centurion in goals. He currently has 99.
If the scores are level after 90 minutes there will be a replay at Loftus Road on Tuesday January 15th kick off 7.45. The Tottenham Premier League game scheduled for the night before will then revert back to Saturday January 12th.
The draw for the FA Cup fourth round is on Monday at 1.30pm.
The referee is Mike Dean. He has officiated our games at Reading in August and Manchester Utd in September.
Chelsea's overall record against QPR in all competitions is: played 46, won 16, drawn 17, lost 13.
Head-to-head at Stamford Bridge in all competitions: played 22, won 10, drawn 7, lost 5.

THE LAST TIME OUR TWO CLUBS MET
Chelsea 1 Queen's Park Rangers 1
Premiership, Saturday March 23rd 1996, Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (3-4-1-2): Hitchcock; Duberry, Lee (Johnsen 79), Clarke; Petrescu, Gullit, Burley, Phelan; Wise (c), Spencer (Peacock 82); Hughes (Furlong 51).
Manager Glenn Hoddle
Booked Hughes, Furlong
Scorer Spencer (8)
QPR (4-1-2-1-2): Sommer; Bardsley, Maddix (Ready h/t), McDonald, Brevett; Yates (Brazier 87); Barker, Impey; Sinclair; Dichio, Gallen (Hateley 76).
Manager Ray Wilkins
Booked Barker, Bardsley, Dichio
Scorer Barker (19)
Crowd 25,590
Referee Mike Reed
With one point a piece Rangers finished the afternoon bottom of the Premiership. Chelsea dropped to tenth. The top three were Manchester Utd, Newcastle, Aston Villa. Chelsea

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - CHELSEA PREVIEW
It's arguably the most anticipated fixture in years, as QPR make the short 3.5 mile journey across West London to near neighbours Chelsea in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.
Over 6,000 Rangers fans will make the trip to Stamford Bridge, after last month's draw pitted the two arch-rivals together for the first time since March 1996, when the sides drew 1-1 in the Premiership.
Two months earlier, the Blues had knocked Rangers out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage.
Avram Grant's side, who as well as being the current FA Cup holders, currently occupy third place in the Premiership and are in the last four of the Carling Cup.
Last season's success at the new Wembley Stadium came at the expense of domestic rivals Manchester United.
A Didier Drogba goal late in extra-time was enough to secure victory for the Blues over United in the first FA Cup Final at the new home of football.
Drogba produced a rare moment of brilliance in a game that failed to live up to expectations to complete a cup Double for the Blues.
With penalties looming, he played a one-two with Frank Lampard before poking the ball past Edwin van der Sar.
Incidentally, Chelsea were also the last Club to win the coveted trophy at the old Wembley Stadium, when they beat Aston Villa in the 2000 Final.
Speaking after the draw was made, R's boss Luigi De Canio described the showdown as a 'dream come true,' commenting: "I feel very lucky and honoured to be in the position to take us to Chelsea in the FA Cup.
"You can be waiting a very long time in your life for a derby like this and we will relish it.
"I have waited for this opportunity and I am looking forward to it very much."QPR