Express & Star

West Brom v QPR preview

It’s only been a fortnight, but the opening day disappointment against Bolton already feels like a while ago.

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Darren Moore (AMA)

Since then, Albion have played three games, won four points away from home, trialled a new system in the Carabao Cup, scored six goals, and conceded four.

That’s the beauty of this division, it’s relentless pace changes the atmosphere regularly.

However, the Baggies will want to build on the little head of steam that has been created from back-to-back victories with a commanding home performance in the league that completely consigns the Bolton defeat to history.

This weekend, just like then, Albion are firm favourites against a Queens Park Rangers side whose poor start has vindicated many people’s pre-season concerns.

And boss Darren Moore wants to see his team cope with the pressure that brings.

“Because we’re in the Championship, we’re a bigger scalp for a lot of people,” he said. “I’m just focusing on the personnel here.

“Every single game has massive hurdles to deal with and we can only handle them one at a time.

“That’s the best way to go about it really. I can’t influence what people think outside the club, I just focus on the strength we have got to try to win football matches.”

Those strengths have, so far this season, lay in the attacking prowess of Albion’s forwards.

Harvey Barnes, Matt Phillips, Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle have all impressed.

But the most intriguing aspect of this game will be whether Moore persists with the 3-4-1-2 formation he trialled on Tuesday.

Although the opposition came from the division below, Albion kept their first clean sheet of the season, and had more options in possession.

It’s a system that allows Moore to keep two central midfielders and two strikers on the pitch while adding a number 10 into the mix to help with creativity on the ball and pressing off it.

Jake Livermore and Chris Brunt have been overrun at times, so any help in the engine room would be welcome. As well as the system, Moore also has a number of calls to make over personnel.

Oliver Burke is unlikely to start up front ahead of either Rodriguez or Gayle, but he could be a useful option off the bench.

Conor Townsend will be unfortunate to lose his place at left-back, and youngsters Sam Field and Rekeem Harper did nothing but good for their respective causes.

But considering this is Albion’s fifth game in 15 days, fatigue will no doubt play a part, and those fresh senior players who sat out Tuesday’s match are expected to return.

Moore claims both Craig Dawson and Nacer Chadli are ‘getting closer’, and with Allan Nyom on his way to Leganes, there could be a return to action for the defender.

Whoever plays, and whatever the system is, victory in this game will complete the turnaround from the opening day, and send the Baggies into their first free midweek in buoyant mood.

The Opposition - QPR

Queens Park Rangers may have finally resolved their long-running Financial Fair Play issues, but their season has not started brightly.

Former England manager Steve McClaren has seen his new side slump to two defeats in the league against Preston North End and Sheffield United, suggesting that those who predicted QPR would struggle this season were right.

Influential goalkeeper Alex Smithies was lost to Cardiff City in the summer for a paltry £3m and McClaren needs to tap into the loan market before the end of the month in order to add experience to his young team.

He’s already added one elder statesman to his team this week, snapping up 35-year-old full-back Angel Rangel on a five-month contract after he was released by Swansea.

Rangel has been brought in to provide cover for injured Darnell Furlong, who is sidelined for the next three months with a knee injury.

However, based on the first two games, McClaren will need to use his contacts book even more in the next fortnight.

The Rangers boss is also keen on Burnley’s Nahki Wells and has opened talks over a possible deal to sign Tomer Hemed on loan from Brighton.

Steve McClaren is the new man in charge at QPR

A couple of new faces could change the landscape significantly, and it’s not been all doom and gloom.

A midweek victory over League One Peterborough in the Carabao Cup provided the first moment of joy for QPR this season, and McClaren will no doubt be buoyed by Bolton’s victory at The Hawthorns on opening day.

Impressive performances from striker Conor Washington and winger Pawel Wszolek in that 2-0 win could earn them a place in the starting line-up tomorrow.

“We brought Conor in because we felt we needed energy and pace running in beyond,” said McClaren. “He provided us with an outlet and that gave us a good platform from the front.”

Wszolek scored one of QPR’s goals on Tuesday and is now in contention to keep his place.

“He deserved his opportunity because we needed consistency and energy in wide areas and he gave us that,” said McClaren.

“I’ve always liked Pawel. I remember when they first signed him here, I thought he was very good.

“I had no hesitation in picking him and he showed his experience. It’s a difficult team now to pick on Saturday.”

But above McClaren, things continue to change. This week Tony Fernandes and Ruben Gnanalingam stepped down as co-chairmen, handing the reins to Amit Bhatia instead because he was based in England.

Despite that, and the resolution to their FFP issues, QPR are readying themselves for a long, hard season.

Likely line-up

Albion (4-4-2): Johnstone, Dawson, Bartley, Hegazi, Gibbs, Phillips, Brunt, Livermore, Barnes, Rodriguez, Gayle.

Subs: Myhill, Adarabioyo, Townsend, Field, Morrison, Burke, Robson-Kanu.

The Boss: It was good to experiment. I thought the players handled it very well. When you change shape the players have got to play to it and adhere to it.

Memory Lane: In September 2007, Albion routed QPR 5-1 at The Hawthorns. Kevin Phillips scored twice, with Koren, Miller and Greening also netting.

Key Man: In September 2007, Albion routed QPR 5-1 at The Hawthorns. Kevin Phillips scored twice, with Koren, Miller and Greening also netting.

Prediction: Home win