Southend vs QPR Tonight

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Update: Game has been declared ON

QPR Official Site - GAME ON
Southend United have confirmed that tonight's Championship fixture against the R's will go ahead despite some adverse weather in the region.
Snow fell in the Southend area, and throughout the rest of the country, on Thursday as temperatures dropped.
However, the Club took the precaution of hiring covers for the pitch and specially designed heaters to prevent the surface from freezing.
Those covers were applied to the pitch on Wednesday evening before the next morning's snow fall.
The snow was removed from the covers last night and this morning the heaters were applied to melt any ground frost that may have built up on the surface of the pitch.
The match kicks-off at 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports 2. href="http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~978300,00.html">QPR

SOUTHEND OFFICIAL SITE: GAME ON
GAME ON: Tonight's match at Roots Hall will go ahead as planned
Southend United can confirm that tonight's game against QPR will go ahead despite some adverse weather in the region.
Snow fell in the Southend area, and throughout the rest of the country, on Thursday as temperatures dropped.
However, the Club took the precaution of hiring covers for the pitch and specially designed heaters to prevent the surface from freezing.
Those covers were applied to the pitch on Wednesday evening before the next morning's snow fall.
The snow was removed from the covers last night and this morning the heaters were applied to melt any ground frost that may have built up on the surface of the pitch.
Following the hard work of United's ground staff this evening's game against Queens Park Rangers will go ahead as planned live on Sky Sports 2 tonight. Southend

[Weather permitting [Southend Weather], QPR travel to Southend tonight for a crucial game which will be televized live. Back in August, QPR achieved a rare victory under Gary Waddock, defeating Southend 2-0 at Loftus Road. Southend have achieved some good results recently: Currently they have 28 points from 31 games; QPR have 33 points from same number of games. Southend's home record is 4 wins; 4 draws, 7 defeats. TABLE]

Southend Results this Season - Southend Results
Southend Squad - Squad

When QPR played Southend in August, Blackstock was making his debut. Jones and Rose and Gallen and Ward all played.
QPR (4-4-2): P Jones; Rose, Rehman, Stewart, Milanese; Ainsworth, Rowlands (Lomas 54), Ward, Cook; R Jones (Gallen 74) Blackstock. - Subs: Cole, Baidoo, Kanyuka.
Goals: Rowlands (31), Ward (41). Booked: Blackstock, Rose, R Jones.

Southend (4-4-2): Flahavan (Collis 42); Francis, Prior, Barrett, Hammell; Campbell-Ryce, Maher, Guttridge, Gower; Eastwood, Bradbury (Paynter, 71).
Subs: Hunt, Clarke, Lawson.
Booked: Guttridge.
Referee: I Williamson (Berkshire).
QPR vs Southend Match Reports

SOUTHEND PERSPECTIVE - QPR'S A SIX POINTER - BRUSHY

Assistant boss Paul Brush is targeting tomorrow's 'six pointer' as a must win match

Paul Brush believes tomorrow night's match with Queens Park Rangers is a 'real six pointer'.

With both United and Rangers sitting precariously in or above the drop zone neither side will want to lose the match.

Rangers enjoyed a 2-0 win over Southend back in August at Loftus Road, in what the Blues management described as their worst performance of the season.

And with only 15 games remaining Brush told Blues TV that they must win their home games if they are to avoid the drop.

"We have eight home games and we must win five or six of those if we are to give ourselves a chance," he said.

"It's a different pressure with the crowd behind you; we need not to be anxious though because it is a big game for us.

"For a little while we have been trying not to worry about anybody else and just to get in touch with the other teams.

"Now we are in touch with those sides when we play them they are real six pointers.

"I am sure some of those sides coming to Roots Hall will be well happy with a point and if they shut up shop it is harder to play."

However, whilst things still remain tight at the foot of the Championship table Brush is hoping to hurdle the 30 point barrier on Friday.

History suggests that 50 plus points are required to avoid the drop, however Brush remains sceptical as to whether that will be the case this season.

Paul added: "We don't spend too long looking at other teams and who they have to play. We have a big target to get past the 30 point barrier which we can do tomorrow if we win.

"Our target at the start of the season was 52 points and we believed that would be enough.

"It all depends on how well teams at the bottom play against each other to keep it below 50 to stay up.

"The magical target is to do what Colchester have done and win a big line of home games.

"We have given ourselves a chance though and now we can do even better than that."
Southend


John Gregory on Southend vs QPR - QPR OFFICIAL SITE

John Gregory insists it's vital the R's build on their victory over Burnley with a carbon copy display against Southend United on Friday night.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, the gaffer gave his thoughts on the Live Sky Sports showdown against the Shrimpers at Roots Hall.

"We've got to make last weekend's result count with another three points - it's as simple as that.

"Both ourselves and Southend are vying for positions and we don't want to slip back in the bottom three, so it's important we build on last weekend and put a nice run together.''

Gregory believes last Saturday's victory has gone some way to lifting the doom and gloom around Loftus Road.

"The win against Burnley has given the whole place a lift. The e-mails and letters of praise and support that we've received since then vouch for that.

"Lee Cook was named sponsors man of the match, but in truth it could have been any of the 11 players that pulled on the blue and white hooped shirt on Saturday.

"Like I said post-match on Saturday, the players have set the standards and if they don't match those then they're letting themselves and the fans down.''

With injury ruling out Marc Bircham (back) and Marcus Bignot (knee), Gregory is expected to pick the same 11 players that performed so admirably against the Clarets last Saturday.

"I don't foresee any changes - the side generally picks itself after a performance like that.

"They were outstanding, each and every one of them.''

Victory for the R's at Roots Hall would move them eight points clear of 23rd placed Southend, but the Shrimpers are firing on all cylinders at present - it's a fact that hasn't gone unnoticed by the gaffer.

"Southend were dead and buried at one stage, but they've put together some fantastic results in recent weeks.

"Their victory at St Andrews was excellent and they came from behind to grab a last gasp draw at Stoke last weekend.

"All in all, we're expecting a very tough game.''

Gregory continued: "They're playing particularly well at the moment and in Freddy Eastwood, they have one of the hottest properties outside of the Premiership.

"Similar to Lee Cook, people expected him to move on in January, but he's stayed put and we'll need to be at our very best to keep him at bay.

"We're feeling very confident and we believe we can beat the drop, but talking is very cheap - it's time we backed up our words with a nice winning run, starting with Southend on Friday evening.'' QPR