QPR's Next Challenge: Sheffield United

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UPDATED 1:00 PM


SKY SPORT - Sheff Utd v QPR preview: Rangers look to blunt Blades
Sheffield United are looking to get their campaign up and running against Queens Park Rangers.
The Blades were beaten 1-0 at Birmingham last weekend and will be keen to avoid a repeat of the disastrous start which ruined their 2007/08 campaign.
Ambitious QPR got off to a winning start against Barnsley on the opening day, while they kept that momentum going with a narrow victory over Swindon in the Carling Cup.
No worries
Kevin Blackwell has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Bramall Lane contest.
Sun Jihai is expected to make his home debut in defence, but experienced duo James Beattie (knee) and Keith Gillespie (ankle) remain sidelined.
Lee Hendrie, Matthew Spring and Danny Webber are in contention for a starting place after impressing in a cup tie against Port Vale in midweek.
Duo passed fit
Gavin Mahon and Fitz Hall have both been passed fit for Rangers ensuring that Iain Dowie has a virtually full fit squad to work with.
Radek Cerny and Lee Camp are set to battle it out for the No.1 jersey, while Matt Connolly and Peter Ramage both have eyes on the right-back spot.
On-loan Real Madrid starlet Dani Parejo could be handed his first Championship start, while Angelo Balanta will be hoping to retain his place in the side after netting against Swindon. Sky Sport


QPR travel to Kevin Blackwell's Sheffield United on Saturday hoping to preserve their 100% start to the season (sounds good!). Last Saturday, Sheffield United lost to a last minute goal at Birmingham, so hopefully their confidence will be a just a little dampened. (That confidence might have been restored after their 3-1 Carling Cup win over Port Vale).
QPR don't have the greatest of records at Sheffield United. Last season, QPR lost 2-1 at then Bryan Robson's Sheffield United. A few weeks later, in February QPR drew 1-1 at Loftus Road.
- Sheffield United's Playing squad QPR have unusually posted their squad for tomorrow (a great development to inform fans): The squad: Cerny, Camp, Ramage, Connolly, Stewart, Hall, Gorkss, Delaney, Leigertwood, Mahon, Ledesma, Cook, Ainsworth, Parejo, Blackstock, Alberti, Di Carmine, Agyemang, Balanta.



QPR Official Site - MAHON & HALL RETURN TO SQUAD
R's vice-captain Gavin Mahon and free-scoring defender Fitz Hall have both been passed fit for Saturday's trip to Sheffield United.
The duo were left out of Tuesday's Carling Cup victory over Swindon with slight niggles, but both players are set to return to the R's matchday squad against the Blades.
Radek Cerny and Lee Camp will once again be vying for the goalkeeper's jersey, while Matt Connolly and Peter Ramage will do battle for the right back berth.
In midfield, Real Madrid loanee Daniel Parejo could make his first start in the Championship, while Angelo Balanta will be hopeful of retaining his place in attack, after netting the R's opening goal against the Robins in midweek.
The squad in full is: Cerny, Camp, Ramage, Connolly, Stewart, Hall, Gorkss, Delaney, Leigertwood, Mahon, Ledesma, Cook, Ainsworth, Parejo, Blackstock, Alberti, Di Carmine, Agyemang, Balanta. QPR


Sheffield United Official Site Blades v QPR - team news
Thoughts for the Blades line-up against QPR this weekend began to occupy Kevin Blackwell's mind immediately after the win in midweek:
"There were no fresh injuries from midweek so I am please with that, now I will look at what QPR have over the next 24 hours and decide on how we are going to go.
"Darius Henderson, David Cotterill and Matthew Spring all needed that game to help them sharpen up and all three improved as the game wore on. I think that one, or possibly two, of those will start on Saturday.
"One or two players not selected the previous week at Birmingham could count themselves unlucky, particularly Danny Webber but he was carrying a slight niggle and had missed training - but he had a good workout against Port Vale.
"That last performance was good in many ways and several players did well so it is a selection dilemma, but one that every manager wants. Our bench is looking very strong and illustrates our squad strength." Sheffield


Sheffield Star/James Sheild - Blades put heat on money men
KEVIN BLACKWELL is unsure whether Queens Park Rangers "will arrive by coach or golden carriage" at Bramall Lane tomorrow.
But the Sheffield United manager is convinced his team are more than a match for the richest club in the Championship, predicting the Londoners' vast wealth could actually count against them when the promotion race draws to a close in May.
Blackwell suffered his first significant defeat in the transfer market earlier this week when Lee Martin - the Manchester United winger who spent the tail end of last season on loan in South Yorkshire - joined Nottingham Forest.
But praising the mental strength of his own players, Blackwell warned that 'contender status' could weigh heavily on QPR's shoulders.
"One of the things that QPR are going to have to get used to is being up there for everyone to shoot at," he said.
"That brings its own pressures and, who knows, it could turn out to be an issue.
"In fairness to QPR they haven't behaved as if money is no object.
"Iain Dowie (their manager) knows the division and, despite what some people think, they have a strong nucleus which has been there for some time.
"The difference between them and the rest of us though is that if they have a few problems they can immediately go out and spend in the transfer or the loan market.
"But we've got a strong nucleus too and we've shown that we can deal with the pressure of being one of the favourites..." Sheffield Star


Sheffield Telegraph/Alan Bigg - Blades step up winger search
KEVIN Blackwell is making a fresh commitment to buy a second new winger for Sheffield United but hopes he still has enough attacking potency to out-flank Queens Park Rangers tomorrow.
David Cotterill looks certain to be paraded on the right hand side of the Blades' formation for the Bramall Lane curtain-raiser against the Championship's richest club.But Blackwell - who welcomed compelling proof of his £1 million capture's form and fitness in the Carling Cup win over Port Vale - still wants to establish some balance by providing a similar threat on the left.
Cotterill's pace and trickery make him such an obvious dangerman that opponents could concentrate on bottling up his menace down the right.
That's probably the main reason why the Blades boss was sorry to miss out on another of last season's loanees, Lee Martin, who has left Manchester United for Nottingham Forest.
Blackwell said: "That was disappointing because Lee is a quality player and I know he wanted to come back.
"I'm more than happy with what I've got but, yes, I would like a pacey player for the left hand side. Maybe we'll have to wait until January, though."
United's willingness to spend £2 million or £3 million for a solution was confirmed once more yesterday by Blackwell, who has ruled out making do with a stop-gap edition from lower down the market.
Wingers still tend to be regarded as something of a luxury in the modern game. Managers brave enough to pin their faith in such an approach rarely prosper unless the widemen are top notch. Otherwise, the ploy only looks good and leaves a side vulnerable to being overpowered.
Blackwell added: "You get wingers who flatter to deceive because there is no end product. I'd rather wait for top quality. From now on, our signings must be of that calibre and I'll be looking to bring one in every now and then."
For now, Lee Hendrie could pose a fresh challenge for the left side role, albeit as more of a creative midfielder than a flying winger.
Hendrie's influential performance in mid-week, topped with a sumptuous goal, suggested he could yet revive his career at Bramall Lane following his extended loan at Leicester.
"His career has been going backwards but Lee is still a first class player," said Blackwell." Maybe he has to work a bit harder so as not to abuse his God-given talent."
United are likely to have a more offensive look tomorrow after Greg Halford's midfield selection in the narrow defeat at Birmingham last week suggested a containment policy which very nearly worked.
Also pressing a claim is Danny Webber after his first 90 minutes for more than a year, including a goal from the penalty spot.
"Danny has a turn of speed that can upset defenders," said Blackwell, pinpointing a possible missing link. For the time being, at least, Billy Sharp is set for a chance to follow up last season's late impact by cementing a place alongside £2 million recruit Darius Henderson.
As for the game itself, Blackwell believes QPR's big build-up could count against them.
"They may become regarded as the team to beat, not because of what they've done on the pitch, but what they've done off it," he said, sensing an escape valve from the pressure of expectation surrounding his own team's bid for promotion. Sheffield Telegraph


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: BLADES
Rangers face a daunting trip to Bramall Lane - the home of Sheffield United - for their maiden away league fixture of the campaign on Saturday.
The Blades, who opened their season with a disappointing last-gasp defeat against Birmingham City last weekend, are amongst the favourites to gain promotion to the Premier League.
And Chairman Kevin McCabe believes a return to the top-flight of English football is the minimum requirement this season.
"Success is what's on the agenda and that success to me is getting back to the Premier League next season," he said recently.
"We're working hard to make this happen but a fair wind is also needed."
In Kevin Blackwell, they have a boss whose ambitions match that of their hierarchy - as well as the Clubs supporters.
Blackwell - the former Leeds United and Luton Town gaffer - stepped into the Bramall Lane hot-seat in February, following hot on the heels of Bryan Robson's departure.
His impact was quite sensational, as he completely revitalised the Blades' season, guiding them to a ninth place finish in the Championship.
James Beattie, who scored 22 goals in all competitions, was the talisman for United, but in his absence last weekend, the Blades were blunt.
Kevin Phillips' 92nd minute strike won it for Birmingham, to deny Blackwell's men a draw their performance probably just about warranted.
It was a defeat that Blackwell found hard to stomach, commenting: "It is exceptionally hard to take this loss.
"I don't know how Kevin does it, he had one opportunity and scored.
"I will give Kevin all the credit but I am so frustrated. We were very well organised and they did not give us too many problems.
"But we have put down a marker that we will be tough to beat and hopefully we will get our run of luck later in the season."
Team News
Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie is pushing for a recall following his goalscoring exploits in the Carling Cup in midweek, but experienced duo James Beattie (knee) and Keith Gillespie (ankle) remain sidelined. Preview


Sheffield United Official Site - Left side search goes on
The Blades have missed out on former loanee Lee Martin who has gone to Nottingham Forest on the same basis.
But Kevin Blackwell, despite admitting an interest, is even more determined to make sure that he brings in the right acquisition:
"Lee made it clear that he wanted to come back here and I would have been interested, but it wasn't to be. However, I do want to bring in a real quality attacking, left-sided player rather than just get by, and I am prepared to wait until I can get him, even until January if necessary."
Blackwell considers strength in depth essential but rates continuity of selection even higher:
We could end up with too large a squad, player rotation just for the sake of it and no settled team established which would be counterproductive.
"I do want to get a winning team that requires little or no change, apart from occasions when situations, venues or personnel demand." Sheffield United


Sheffield United Official Site - Last time v QPR
United overturned a half-time deficit to secure three points when QPR last visited Bramall Lane in January 2008.
Lee Hendrie's strike secured a 2-1 victory for United. Earlier, Patrick Agyemang had put QPR ahead before the break, but a comical own goal levelled the scores before Hendrie bagged his first league goal for the club.
However, United were indebted to quick-thinking from Matt Kilgallon late in the game when he took up a tremendous position to deflect a shot from Akos Buzsaky wide of the target, possibly with his hand!
United: Kenny, Bromby, Kilgallon, Armstrong, Geary (Gillespie 84), Carney, Hendrie (Stead 69), Speed, Tonge, Hulse, Sharp (Shelton 89)
Unused: Montgomery, Lucketti.
QPR: Camp, Barker (Blackstock 73), Connolly, Hall, Stewart, Mahon, Buzsaky, Rowlands, Lee, Agyemang, Vine. Unused: Bolder, Ainsworth, Walton, Ephraim. Sheffield United

Also:
- Clive Whittingham/Loft For Words Comprehensive Sheffield United Match Preview