It's hard to think that it was 10 seasons ago that under Neil Warnock QPR stormed the Championship. That season our two meetings were significant for them, as our meeting in the December live on BBC2 saw us inflicting their first defeat of the season which included a Graham brace; the return fixture at the end of April sealed QPR's promotion. That was hard to take as a lot of their fans had infiltrated the home end as we drifted towards yet another mid table finish in what turned out to be Malky Mackays last home match as Watford manager, but they were persistent in their chants as they sang that we would never play each other again. Despite that arrogance we knew it would not be true, but if someone had told you that day that in the next 9 seasons we would be in the same division for one season you would not have thought it likely. We almost missed each other in 13/14 as a poor Wembley performance in the 2013 Play Off final meant we would face relegated QPR, who then went on to bounce straight back up. 12 months later both clubs passed each other as we earned promotion and stayed a league above them for 5 years. Our only meeting since then was a scrappy 1-0 win away in the FA cup on our run to the final at the beginning of last year. With Covid still preventing fans from going to matches, Loftus Road still alludes me. Other than Leyton Orient, who we haven't played since I started following in 1983, QPR remains the only London club that I have never seen Watford play at. For various reasons I've not been able to make one of the shortest visits that we face over the years. Maybe I'm not missing much, who knows? Maybe if I am 'lucky' enough to go to Loftus Road I will get one of those seats that is behind the supporting structure and would have to rely on others in the stand to let me know what is going on. Either way, now is not the time in history for fans to compare stadia size to their garden sheds or whether the atmosphere resembles that of a library as everyone is on an equal footing nowadays. View of pitch before the pandemic View of the pitch now As for form, we know that we are capable of playing to keep a clean sheet and hoping to nick a goal, or go for goal and leave gaps in the defence. As for QPR between the two international breaks they didn't score for the first 4 games but picked up 2 wins over Cardiff and Derby prior to losing 3-1 at Blackburn in their last outing, those wins were their first since the opening day. They currently sit 18th, with 3 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats, scoring 11 and conceding 15. Their top scorer is someone called Lyndon Dykes with 3 goals. Six of their players have been called up for international duty, so it will be interesting how fatigue builds up in some of the squad members, Dykes the top scorer is in the Scotland squad who have 3 away matches travelling to Serbia, Slovakia and Israel. It would be wrong for me to not include a few videos of some memorable moments of past matches against QPR:
Looking forward to this. Meet at Baker Street for breakfast washed down with a few pints. Jump on the rattler to Loftus Road. Win game comfortably. Back to Marylebone. More pints. Stagger to train. Home. Fall asleep in front of MotD. Oh... hang on... bugger
Ah yes, the return of the 'is it a rivalry?' rivalry. I seem to remember when the fixtures came out, they described us as their 'cup finals', an indication that they really hate us, or just a nod to Deeney's comments when we *********d a result at theirs in the Cup?
Was born in Paddington, and my dad's from Kilburn (he's a Chelsea fan but used to go see QPR quite a lot, ironically when they were good and Chelsea were **** lol), so in a parallel universe I could be on the other side in this game. Mind you, we did move to Garston when I was two so that quickly put paid to any chances of me growing up an R!
I've been 2 or 3 times over the years, seem to remember winning 2-1 whenever I've been. I remember Wilf Rostron playing in one, and Nicky Wright scoring in another. Lucky ground for me, perhaps I should go and stand around outside...
Also: "Come, come, come and make fun of them, Down at the old Shepherd's Bush" and "QPR, QPR, QPR, QP ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha"
I’m amazed that Otter, or anyone else who has supported Watford for any length of time, has never been to Loftus Road. Off the top of my head it’s probably the ground I’ve been to most following Watford. Great atmosphere when it’s rocking, but horribly cramped.
I know some quarter pounder rubbish fans and they view the rivalry with us as we do with them: non-existent. I guess one of the more recent matches v them was when they had a young peter crouch. I recall all the away end chanting FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAK every time he touched the ball. What year was that? And what was the final score? I don't mind their ground really, at least it's got character. Are we at full strength, apart from masina, for this one? Wouldn't it be nice to just win comfortably 3-0 or something. Come on Watford, these are shyt.
The main reason I never went to Loftus Road I suppose is that in the 1980s I was little and only went to away matches when my dad did. At the end of the 90s I was working some Saturdays so I missed the one in 98/99 and from about 2003 I more or less stopped going to away matches. Apart from Wembley/Millennium stadium I think I've only been to 2 away matches since 2003.
Barry Lyndon Dykes has received good reviews for his performance against EuroDisney Girls' Second XI or whomever Scotland played on Thursday. Hopefully he is still somewhere under a crate of Tennants Extra come Saturday.
Tom Cleverley there telling Lloyd how to celebrate is a great moment. I've given up predicting this division. Just going to sit back and enjoy the 3-2 win with Sarr nicking the winner.
One of the few grounds I actually liked visiting. Absolutely horrific away end, but always a top atmosphere. I think they'll beat us.
I thought egg and chips was Palarse? Maybe it's both. Tough game, but winnable. Our away form is pretty pathetic, drew at Wycombe, lost at Barnsley etc. We really need a good performance on the road for a confidence boost if anything else. Concede first, we lose. I cannot or have not seen anything so far to believe we can get back into an away match after going behind. Hopefully we can win, and Reading continue their awful form. I think it'll be a draw though. 2-2.
A ground I’ve never managed to get to either, I’ll take a scrappy 1-0 win capoue with a 2nd half strike. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This post just reinforced the (very small) part of me that hopes we don't go up, because the Championship away days (especially in London) are so much better.
All 3 of those Dykes goals for QPR this season have been penalties. So who is going to be the player to concede one for us? Surely Cathcart.
Missed football last weekend , stuck in the house without anything to do and not even nursing a hangover from Friday night beer with my mates. still back to 2 matches a week , a win here could see us go top with Reading vs Muff (love to see a draw there) , let’s hope it an easy win rather than the battle like the last 2 games. 0-2 , Hughes and Deeney to score
Forget the plastic rivalries with Palace, Muff, Everton, Luton and Wycombe, this is the big one. I wonder if our Carlos Kickaballs will understand how much we hate the Hoopies. Must win game. End of.
That away win was sweet, my PE teacher at the time was once on the books at QPR (among other clubs, though he never made an appearance at full professional level) so he got a lot of ribbing. Had forgotten that it was Tommy Smith who scored against us that night, nice of him not to celebrate! We were all in shock when Lloydinho scored (and a fine finish it was too!), was all we could talk about the next day at school!
I was in the QPR end when Loydinho scored - as I went with a hoops fan. It was hilarious when they kept repeating over the tannoy that this was Loyd first and only goal etc. The highly intelligent Rangers fans were getting so angry.
Very ironic that they were almost right but not in the way they expected! Didn't realize unless you pointed it out how little we've played each other in the last decade, I think of QPR as one of those staple fixtures in this division, like Preston, Reading, Wednesday, Derby, Forest, Cardiff, and until recently, Ipswich. I haven't been there yet either, and it may be another long time before we play them again if this season goes to plan. Is it like Selhurst Park then, or more like The Valley?
Great memories. Remember getting 'ejected' as a 15yo aftr about 5 mins, scrapping with some qpr herberts who had gatecrashed our end. Copper clipped me rd ear told me to get back home. Promptly went into their end to watch game. Can distinctly remember singing at the top of my voice ' come on you orns' to their ' come on you Rs' Why do we have to grow up.....
I have always disliked QPR since that time at The Vic when they were promoted, I will always remember getting into a confrontation with some QPR fans in the home end and them saying to our fans in a demeaning manner enjoy the Championship we won't be playing you for a long time, they genuinely thought they were going up to compete and get into Europe bless them. Its actually quite satisfying how that has turned out for them. I have only watched them play once this season against Coventry and they lost 3-2, they looked a poor side and just as bad as Coventry defensively. We need to be beating teams like this if we are serious about top two.
I was there. We definitely lost. I think Crouch scored a penalty. He got some stick for a dive at some point. Lee Cook was our best attacker. Can't be bothered to Google the facts so that's just my recollection (of a rare away game for me).
Our back line will have to keep that tricky winger Mark Lazarus in check especially with their centre forward Rodney Marsh - lethal combo. Keep them quiet and we’ve got a chance. Looking forward to another visit to their tight ground and a rejuvenated Deeney goal. 0-1 Watford And yes, lockdown has affected me..
