MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 00:50:03| >> :120:64230:64230:
[monks data]
QPR logo
Premier League
Dec 20, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
West Brom logo

3-2

Austin (25' pen., 48', 87')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Lescott (11'), Varela (20')

Live Coverage: Harry Redknapp's weekly Queens Park Rangers press conference

Follow Sports Mole's live coverage of Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp's pre-match press conference.
2

Harry Redknapp has admitted that he is "relieved" to have Charlie Austin back in the squad for Queens Park Rangers' match against West Bromwich Albion this weekend.

The striker was suspended for the trip to Everton earlier this week, but will be in the squad for the visit of the Baggies tomorrow.

QPR have lost just twice at home this season, but currently sit in the relegation zone.

Read what else the manager discussed below:


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Good morning! Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp will be answering the media's questions shortly as his side prepare to welcome West Bromwich Albion to Loftus Road this weekend.

QPR have been in mixed form recently, losing three of their last six outings in the Premier League, as well as winning two and drawing one. Their defeat to Everton earlier this week has dropped them back into the bottom three, and without a point away from home, but they've looked strong at home, so should be confident of points tomorrow.

This is the first of four Premier League fixtures over the Christmas and New Year period for QPR, as they also travel to Arsenal on Boxing Day, before hosting Crystal Palace and Swansea City.

QPR should be boosted by the return of top scorer Charlie Austin this week, as the striker missed the trip to Goodison Park through suspension. Redknapp should provide an update on any other availability concerns this morning.

As well as preparing for this match, QPR have been out in the local community this week. Striker Leroy Fer shared this snap from the squad's visit to a nearby school for children with disabilities:


Just before the press conference gets underway, let me remind you that we'll have live coverage from this match, as well as every other Premier League game, from an hour before kickoff this weekend, as well as plenty of post-match reaction, player ratings and much more.

If you want to take a closer look at this fixture before kickoff, why not check out our pre-match preview, where you can also vote for who you think will win the match. At the moment, QPR are overwhelmingly favourites with Sports Mole readers, with 61.5% of you thinking that the home side will win, while just 20.5% currently fancy West Brom.

Well it looks like Redknapp is running a few minutes late this morning. While we wait for Redknapp, let's quickly turn our attention to the transfer window. Redknapp has been asked about January's comings and goings a few times in the last couple of press conferences, and he's admitted that he will be keen to add to his squad next month.

Last week, Redknapp was specifically asked about his interest in Jermain Defoe, who is currently in the MLS with Toronto. The former Tottenham man was linked with a return to England in the summer, but Redknapp insists that he has not spoken to Defoe's representatives yet, nor those of Robbie Keane, who has also been linked with QPR.

Redknapp will surely be keen to keep hold of in-form striker Charlie Austin next month, and the team's top goal scorer has insisted that he won't be leaving the club. He told the London Evening Standard: "I'm really happy. Things are going so well at QPR and they've given me an opportunity to play in the Premier League which I've always dreamed of. I've got a contract and the most important thing is that we stick together and climb the table."

Let's hope it's worth the wait when Redknapp is finally ready to go. This will be the first time that these two sides have met in the league for almost two years. They've met in the FA Cup since then though, with QPR sneaking through with a replay in 2013. The last time they were both in the same league though, West Brom beat QPR in both matches.

QPR's opponents this weekend have been struggling a bit in recent weeks, but they beat local rivals Aston Villa last week, putting a recent four-match losing run behind them.

Better late than never, Redknapp has just sat down in front of the reporters to answer their questions, so lets see what he has to say...

Redknapp reveals that he has not long got back from a trip to Malaysia, where he has been meeting with club owner Tony Fernandes: He tells the media: "I've just got back from Malaysia. We has a good positive meeting with Tony Fernandes and Ruben Gnanalingam. We talked at length about the new stadium, training ground, transfer window. We need one or two in, maybe loan."

Sticking with the transfer market, Redknapp adds: "It's always difficult to do business in January. It's a really tough time to get good players in."

Redknapp is asked about the team's ability to score goals, and he replies: "Charlie Austin is our main scorer, but we've got goals from others in this side. Leroy Fer is coming up with goals now."

While admitting that his side will face a difficult match against the Baggies, Redknapp insists that his side expect to win at home: "We're confident when we're at home, our home record has been good, it's really a great place to play. West Brom will produce a tough test but we've had big games recently and come through them with flying colours. It's a crucial period of games for us. We've got home games against teams that are around us. We;re expecting a tough game, they can be dangerous. They've got good attacking players."

Redknapp tells reporters that he is pleased to have Austin available for selection again: "we're relieved to welcome Charlie Austin back into the squad, him and Bobby [Zamora] have done well for us at home. We're pretty much as we were with injuries. Mauricio Isla is back in Chile though as his partner is due to give birth soon. It's a blow to lose Mauricio because he's been playing really well recently."

Redknapp is asked more about his trip to Malaysia, but he simply adds: "The meetings in Kuala Lumpur were really interesting, we spoke at length about a number of things, scouting included."

Tony Fernandes's Twitter account shows that the manager also got to enjoy the local cuisine during his visit:



Well thanks all from Redknapp for now, so make sure you join us again tomorrow to find out in QPR can secure the win over West Brom. Until then, thanks for joining me this morning, goodbye.

ID:194541: cacheID:194541:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:11767:
Written by
Sian Cowper
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Charlie Austin of QPR celebrates scoring their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Queens Park Rangers at St Mary's Stadium on September 27, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: QPR vs. Burnley
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
16Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
17Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth193882134-1317
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!