West Brom V QPR at The Hawthorns : Match Preview
West Brom V QPR - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.
Odemwingie and Reid available
West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie and right-back Steven Reid will return from injury for tomorrow's FA Cup third round replay with QPR at the Hawthorns.
Odemwingie - a target for QPR - has recovered from a calf problem while Reid is available after a shin complaint.
Midfielder Claudio Yacob (hamstring) and strikers Shane Long (dead leg) and Marc-Antoine Fortune (hamstring) are only expected to be fit for the weekend Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
Assitant manager Kevin Keen played under QPR boss Harry Redknapp two decades ago at West Ham, when he was number two to Billy Bonds, and is backing him to keep QPR in the Barclays Premier League.
But he also believes Redknapp will take the FA Cup seriously and stressed it is a competition West Brom are aiming to make progress in.
Keen said: "I think Harry can keep QPR up. I've been in certain scraps. I was at West Ham as first team coach in the Carlos Tevez year when West Ham won six out of eight to stay up.
"I think QPR can do the same. I think their home form is going to be important to them and if they pull out a result, like Reading did against us on Saturday, then they can get out of it.
"Harry has installed a new feel into the club. The couple of results they got over Christmas has given them a bit of confidence that wasn't there.
"But I also think they will want to progress in the FA Cup. They've not got European competition, similar to ourselves, so it is not like there are a load of games coming up.
"I've been in clubs where you've been down the bottom and playing in the cup is a refreshing change.
"Players play with more freedom rather than the pressure of relegation. They will come and have a go and certainly we are up for it as well."
The original cup tie with West Brom ended 1-1 at Loftus Road with Kieron Dyer, who has since been released by the club, grabbing a dramatic late equaliser for the R's.
That fixture was sandwiched between a shock 1-0 win at the home of local rivals Chelsea and the goalless draw with Spurs and midfielder Derry reckons the QPR players are now feeling more confident about securing Premier League survival.
"We've managed to register two great results on the bounce now," he told QPR Player.
"The win against Chelsea and the point against Spurs has given everyone at the club a massive boost.
"We're a different group of players here now. There's huge belief amongst the squad now. We're a lot harder to beat.
"The changes over the last few weeks since the manager and his backroom team have come in have made a big difference."
Jamie Mackie does not think the FA Cup replay will detract from the task of Premier League survival and feels a good result in any competition breeds positivity throughout the squad.
"You want to win any game, on a personal note you go out there to win football matches," he said.
"It can only be a good thing for the club if we win football matches, whatever they are and whoever plays.
"We have a big squad and people are eager to play now we are getting results, it freshens things up so it could be a chance for other people or a chance for us to keep the momentum going."
Source : http://www.football.co.uk/west_bromwich_albion/west_brom_v_qpr_at_the_hawthorns___match_preview_rss3665084.shtml