Home Match Build-Up 09/04/25: Championship - OUFC v QPR

[BicesterU]

I love that we've got this game so soon after Saturday's superb victory.

With five of the teams below us playing tomorrow - two of them against top-half sides, and two of them against each other - if one or two of those results go the 'right' way, then Wednesday could be a chance to take a massive step towards confirming our Championship status for next season.

If we support the team at the same volume we did for the last 15 minutes on Saturday, and the players approach the game with the same ruthless intensity, there's no reason we can't pick up another three points.

However, this game will be as difficult - if not moreso - that Saturday's even if it's in a different way, and so we can't take anything for granted, and need to implement the game plan as well or better than we did on Saturday.

 

[tonyw]

I love that we've got this game so soon after Saturday's superb victory.

With five of the teams below us playing tomorrow - two of them against top-half sides, and two of them against each other - if one or two of those results go the 'right' way, then Wednesday could be a chance to take a massive step towards confirming our Championship status for next season.

If we support the team at the same volume we did for the last 15 minutes on Saturday, and the players approach the game with the same ruthless intensity, there's no reason we can't pick up another three points.

However, this game will be as difficult - if not moreso - that Saturday's even if it's in a different way, and so we can't take anything for granted, and need to implement the game plan as well or better than we did on Saturday.

Agree with everything except this bit.

On Saturday Sheffield United (who were top of the table going into the weekend) were able to call on Brewster, Hamer, Moore, Campbell, Brereton, Cannon, Rak-Sakyi and O'Hare for the forward positions. That's eight players who would all walk into our starting XI, and the starting XI of most teams in this division.

On Wednesday, in the forward positions QPR will be able to call on Paul Smyth (who's tiny, but a decent workmanlike player), an 18 year-old Korean kid, an 18 year-old Aussie and Siriki's younger brother, Karomoko Dembele, who's been struggling to get in their side. None of them has scored more than one Championship goal this season. Which of them is going to be #9, I have no idea as none of them are strikers or over six foot tall!

Which is not me saying that we're automatically going to win - we are going to need to put in exactly the same level of effort as we did on Saturday, and take nothing for granted.

But I think to say that it's going to be more difficult is stretching it a little when none of QPR's fit and available forwards would even get onto Sheffield United's bench!

 

[Gregortheox]

I definitely think the situation is there for us to take the points.
QPR should get our full respect, and we need to carry on shouting loud in the stands and for the players to fight and scrap for their lives again.
We can do this…but hold on tight…again!

 

[Billyox]

Agree with everything except this bit.

On Saturday Sheffield United (who were top of the table going into the weekend) were able to call on Brewster, Hamer, Moore, Campbell, Brereton, Cannon, Rak-Sakyi and O'Hare for the forward positions. That's eight players who would all walk into our starting XI, and the starting XI of most teams in this division.

On Wednesday, in the forward positions QPR will be able to call on Paul Smyth (who's tiny, but a decent workmanlike player), an 18 year-old Korean kid, an 18 year-old Aussie and Siriki's younger brother, Karomoko Dembele, who's been struggling to get in their side. None of them has scored more than one Championship goal this season. Which of them is going to be #9, I have no idea as none of them are strikers or over six foot tall!

Which is not me saying that we're automatically going to win - we are going to need to put in exactly the same level of effort as we did on Saturday, and take nothing for granted.

But I think to say that it's going to be more difficult is stretching it a little when none of QPR's fit and available forwards would even get onto Sheffield United's bench!

Opposition wise it's would appear less difficult but Saturday we went in with hope. there wouldn't of been many of us thinking we could win
Expectancy level has risen because of that win as long as the team treat qpr as if they were Sheffield utd then that will put us in good shape if the team start thinking oh they have xy and z missing this is where qpr become more difficult than Sheffield utd

 

[tonyw]

Opposition wise it's would appear less difficult but Saturday we went in with hope. there wouldn't of been many of us thinking we could win
Expectancy level has risen because of that win as long as the team treat qpr as if they were Sheffield utd then that will put us in good shape if the team start thinking oh they have xy and z missing this is where qpr become more difficult than Sheffield utd

I mean any game becomes difficult if your attitude is wrong.

But as long as our attitude is right and we're not letting ourselves down - and I think I trust Rowett to ensure this is the case, and the leaders in our team to enforce it too - then this game (at least from an opposition attacking basis) is objectively easier than Saturday. Massively so.

I don't want the players to be thinking like that. But I don't think it's unreasonable for us to view it that way as fans. We couldn't really expect to win on Saturday.......we can expect to win on Wednesday.

 

[dabigfella]

Its going to be damned difficult for the players to mentally get back to the heights of the Sheffield game so I am going for a draw. Not a bad result since it creeps us that bit nearer to safety.

 

[christenedinjericho]

Its going to be damned difficult for the players to mentally get back to the heights of the Sheffield game so I am going for a draw. Not a bad result since it creeps us that bit nearer to safety.

I'll happily be the first one to bite. Ffs x

COYY'S.

 

[Essexyellows]

Players on a high, slightly weakened oppo...................... knuckle gnawing 1-0 again.

 

[Oxymoron]

Opposition wise it's would appear less difficult but Saturday we went in with hope. there wouldn't of been many of us thinking we could win
Expectancy level has risen because of that win as long as the team treat qpr as if they were Sheffield utd then that will put us in good shape if the team start thinking oh they have xy and z missing this is where qpr become more difficult than Sheffield utd

The fly in the ointment is that the blades came and played football on the basis that they could take all three points. We know we can give anyone a good game if they want one.

I doubt QPR will be so adventurous. If they come to spoil and stiffle the game, have we the wherewithal to break them down?

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

We are definitely going to get a pen tomorrow -we canny go all season without one.

 

[BicesterU]

Agree with everything except this bit.

On Saturday Sheffield United (who were top of the table going into the weekend) were able to call on Brewster, Hamer, Moore, Campbell, Brereton, Cannon, Rak-Sakyi and O'Hare for the forward positions. That's eight players who would all walk into our starting XI, and the starting XI of most teams in this division.

On Wednesday, in the forward positions QPR will be able to call on Paul Smyth (who's tiny, but a decent workmanlike player), an 18 year-old Korean kid, an 18 year-old Aussie and Siriki's younger brother, Karomoko Dembele, who's been struggling to get in their side. None of them has scored more than one Championship goal this season. Which of them is going to be #9, I have no idea as none of them are strikers or over six foot tall!

Which is not me saying that we're automatically going to win - we are going to need to put in exactly the same level of effort as we did on Saturday, and take nothing for granted.

But I think to say that it's going to be more difficult is stretching it a little when none of QPR's fit and available forwards would even get onto Sheffield United's bench!

To be fair, you stopped your bold bits right before I said ‘in a different way’!

Obviously QPR don’t have the strength or depth Sheffield Utd have - who does?! - but because of that, it’s likely to be a very different game. We may well have more of the ball, they’ll sit in a low block and look to counter on us, and so we need to find a spark of creativity to open them up, which hasn’t exactly been a strength of ours this season.

It might be a similar game to Saturday, but this time it won’t be us defending for our lives and hoping to her a bit of luck.

 

[Stanford yellow]

We are definitely going to get a pen tomorrow -we canny go all season without one.

I'm hoping Wednesday night

 

[Mateo Corbo's Tackle]

Players on a high, slightly weakened oppo...................... knuckle gnawing 1-0 again.

Far more weakened than “slightly” - if I’m right in saying that Chair, Frey, Cook and Lloyd are all out. Not far off their four most influential players.

 

[Tinman]

Always vote against us in a poll every time... doesnt mean thats how Im thinking ... also had a bet on saturday backing every result going aginst us ... I never win ... which is a good thing.

Yep, if I vote for us to win we always lose, so I always go for the opposition, gives us a chance then!

 

[Oxford84]

Just don't lose ,make it a fantastic a week for the U's .Take draw Wednesday and against Wednesday what a week that would be. Love to look at the table Saturday night with 47pts or more ,fingers crossed

f**k that, i want 51 points by then, getting a point every game just keeps us in the battle.

 

[Oxford84]

Interesting
I usually vote based on superstition too. Went against the norm in predicting win at West Brom (that went well! )
I’d be interested to know the motivation for people’s predictions. Is it REALLY what people expect to happen? (The poll always seems remarkably positive, home and away! Eg does Sarge really think we will win every match? Fair play to your positivity, Sarge!)
I would guess that the poll results haven’t been too accurate this season. (??)
Anyway …. QPR home draw.

Almost every time i vote on us to lose in the hope that makes us win!

 

[Oxford84]

Can we have some more of the Come on Come on song from saturday please.

 

[Mike_H]

For any Sky Sports customers that didn't know (like me), Oxford v QPR on Wednesday night is live on Sky Sports + HD (channel 412 for Sky Q and apparently channel 410 for Sky Glass ) so can be set in advance to record the game.

 

[SSO]

It was that Kolli that caused us a lot of problems in the game at QPR. He was in a very good spell at that time. Chair is also a very good operator at this level when he gets going.

But we have had injuries ourselves this season and might have a few more points on the board had Brannagan not missed so many games.
20/1 QPR for the drop now from 25’s.
Let’s put them in single figures tomorrow night.

 

[tonyw]

To be fair, you stopped your bold bits right before I said ‘in a different way’!

Obviously QPR don’t have the strength or depth Sheffield Utd have - who does?! - but because of that, it’s likely to be a very different game. We may well have more of the ball, they’ll sit in a low block and look to counter on us, and so we need to find a spark of creativity to open them up, which hasn’t exactly been a strength of ours this season.

It might be a similar game to Saturday, but this time it won’t be us defending for our lives and hoping to her a bit of luck.

Nah, who needs creativity? Just win a bunch of throw ins in their half, and sling it into the mixer. Job's a good 'un.

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

I'm hoping Wednesday nig

 

[Symp59]

It's the championship what a massive leep in class from league 1 ,every game is tough expecting another ,hoping for a back to back result and another solid performance. Don't loose come on the front boys let's have a few goals 3-1 would be massive

 

[m]

QPR and Cardiff really are defining games for us this season. Given their run, injuries, our performances at home. QPR is a must win.

Everyone needs to be up for it on and off the field!

And, dare I say it, that f*****g shambles down at their place.

I'm honestly getting irritable just thinking about it.

 

[m]

The team (or at least those who played at Loftus Road) owe us. That non performance was dispiriting and depressing in its ineptness. Worse than our non-appearance at Leeds, and undoubtedly an indication that the manager had lost the plot.

New manager; new era. Let’s have a comfortable win please.

I'm giving you a 'thumbs up' emoji for this.

Basically, because I made pretty much the same point a whole three days later.

 

[m]

I thought the idea was to vote for what you expected to happen, not what you wanted- that would be pointless

Oh look, it's the vote police.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

Karamoko Dembele, Siriki Dembele’s brother, came on as a second half substitute for QPR against Cardiff.

 

[m]

They are without a fit recognised striker

Pppphhhhtttt.

We have been for about 15 years.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

REF WATCH

Merseyside based Elliot Bell is tomorrow night’s referee. Bell has just returned to the UK after refereeing in Japan.
Took charge of his first Championship match in February and is being fast-tracked having been appointed an EFL official
just 12 months ago.

 

[Berliner]

Another cup final. Massive game in the context of our season.
Not a must-win, definitely a should win.

1-0 to us. Romeny with the winner

 

[The Mighty Aldo]

Will say what I said before the Sheffield United game
We are in a relegation battle and ALL of players need to recognise this.
On Saturday they did.
We have now got 3 more points than we all thought we would have going into the QPR game, let’s not waste this opportunity and make it count. It’s a game we must not lose