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Friday, March 23, 2007

John Gregory Looks at QPR's Forthcoming Games, including the Crucial Match vs WBA

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QPR Official Site - John Gregory "OUR BIGGEST TEST"
John Gregory has labelled the visit of West Bromwich Albion to W12 next Saturday as the R's 'biggest match of the season.'
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk ahead of a rare weekend away from competitive action, the R's gaffer gave us his thoughts on the week ahead.
"West Brom is our biggest match of the season, without any doubt.
"A win against West Brom and then another versus Preston will certainly go a long way to securing our future in this division.''
"It's absolutely massive for us, but if we get the support we've had over the last few weeks - both at Loftus Road and on our travels - it will have a huge influence on the side.
"A win against West Brom and then another on Tuesday versus Preston will certainly go a long way to securing our future in this division.''
With international football taking centre stage over the coming days, Gregory believes the 14-day break from competitive action will do his squad the power of good.
"We'll be using this short break to take one last deep breath before we march on to the final countdown,'' he said.
"I'd have preferred a fixture this weekend, but having said that, at least the break will give one or two players the opportunity to recover from their respective injuries.''
However, Gregory did bemoan the forthcoming fixture schedule, which see's the R's play four crucial games in the space of ten days.
"The fixture list is utterly crazy. By the time West Brom come to town we'll have had a 14-day break since our last fixture and then all of a sudden we play Albion, Preston, Coventry and Luton in the space of ten days!
"We'll be using this short break to take one last deep breath before we march on to the final countdown.''
"Its madness, but unfortunately it's been an annual problem in our game for many years. When the four home nations are all in action there is little alternative - so we just have to get on with the job in hand.''
Rotation could be the key for Rangers during that period and Gregory isn't afraid to tinker with his line-up: "Without question, we'll have to chop and change.
"Some of the lads will play all four games, but many of them will feature in one, two or three.
"We've got four strikers all vying for two positions and it would be safe to say that the front-two I pick against West Brom will differ from the two I pick for the visit of Preston a few days later.''
Martin Rowlands
Buoyed by a five point return from their last three fixtures, Gregory is also hopeful of recalling Dexter Blackstock and Martin Rowlands to the squad ahead of the West Bromwich fixture.
Blackstock sustained a hamstring injury against Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the month, while Rowlands was forced from the fray early on at Pride Park.
"Dex is well on the road to recovery. It was very much precautionary that we rested him for Derby and Leicester and if everything goes according to plan, he'll be back firing for West Brom.
"Rowly should be okay too, which is a massive boost when you consider how well he was playing prior to his injury.''
"Rowly should be okay too, which is a massive boost when you consider how well he was playing prior to his injury.'' Official Site

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