Cardiff Preview - Bean Talks

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We want revenge over big rivals City
Dec 28 2005
Mario Risoli, Western Mail

FORMER Swan Marcus Bean has revealed Cardiff City's visit to Queens Park Rangers is one of the most eagerly-awaited fixtures in the Loftus Road calendar.
The Rangers midfielder admitted his team-mates - and the club's fans - are still sore about the play-off final defeat at the hands of the Bluebirds in May 2003.
And he said today's fixture has been given a sprinkling of extra spice in the shape of Richard Langley facing his former club.
The Jamaica midfielder (pictured below) left Rangers for Ninian Park in the summer of 2003, but returned to the London club four months ago after failing to make an impact at the Welsh club.
"The games with Cardiff are big ones for us. They are one of our biggest rivals and we always want to put one over them," said Bean, who was on loan at Swansea earlier this season.
"When the fixture list comes out I know our fans look at it to see when we're playing Cardiff, home and away."
The Bluebirds beat the Londoners in the old Division Two play-off final at the Millennium Stadium thanks to Andy Campbell's extra-time winner.
"A lot of the rivalry with Cardiff goes back to that play-off final," added Bean, a product of Rangers' youth system.
"They beat us to promotion. We had to wait another year to go up and that hurt our fans, so beating Cardiff means a lot to them."
The two sides met for the first time since the final last November, Ian Holloway's men gaining some revenge with a 1-0 win at Loftus Road.
"I was in the Millennium Stadium stands the day Cardiff beat us," added Bean, who has been starting for Holloway recently thanks to a spate of injuries.
"It was an even game, but I thought we were the better team, especially in the second half. Cardiff's goal was a sucker punch.
"A few of the boys who played in the final are still here and they still remember that, so the Cardiff game is going to be passionate."
One Rangers player who will be desperate to beat City today is Langley, who was off-loaded by City chief Dave Jones in August.
"Langers is a very good friend of mine and he will definitely be out to make a point to Cardiff. He really wants to win this one," said Bean.
"A new manager came in at Cardiff and Langers was forced out. He wants to show them what they are missing out on.
"I grew up watching him play for QPR and I'm very glad he's come back here.
"I'm not sure what happened to him at Cardiff, but these things happen in football.
"He didn't reach the heights with Cardiff that he did with QPR.
"Maybe it wasn't the right move at the right time and it can be hard for players from London to move elsewhere.
"Going to Cardiff was a hard step for Langers, especially as he's very close to his mum and dad. Being away from his family may have affected him.
"But he's back at QPR now, he seems happy and I know he's enjoying his football."
Bean had two loan spells with Swansea - one last season and one this - but Swans boss Kenny Jackett didn't make a permanent swoop for a player he worked with when he was No 2 at Loftus Road.
But the 21-year-old from Hammersmith said, "I've started our last three games and I hope I can keep my place over the Christmas period.
"I enjoyed my time at Swansea. They look like they can win promotion from League One and joining them permanently would have been a good move.
"But I'm happy to be back at QPR and playing in a division higher.
"I learned a lot from Kenny, not just at Swansea but from when he was working at QPR.
"I got match-fit at Swansea and the standard at the top of League One is high. You only have to look at what Luton, who were promoted to the Championship last season, are doing to see that.
"Swansea are capable of doing the same thing as Luton. They are the best team I've seen in League One."
Darren Purse is still waiting to hear whether or not he will be suspended for tonight's trip to Loftus Road. Cardiff City managed to lodge an appeal with the FA of Wales yesterday against Bluebirds skipper Purse's dismissal during Monday's 2-0 home defeat against Plymouth.
After considering the grounds for appeal, the FAW, who were closed for business over the Bank Holiday period, will inform Cardiff of the outcome ahead of the QPR match. If the FAW refuse to overturn the red card, Purse, who travelled up to London with the rest of the squad this morning, will miss Saturday's visit of Southampton as well as tonight's game......
Form guide: Rangers have won only one of their last nine in the league and have lost the last two. Cardiff have won only two of their last seven in the league and failed to score in three of their last four.
Mario Risoli's verdict: Rangers are hardly formidable at home, winning only one of their last eight games at Loftus Road. City have been useful away and could grab a maximum here.
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