Reasons for Brentford fans to believe QPR can do them a favour

By

Ollie Watkins of Brentford and Ebere Eze of QPR
So. Tonight’s the night.

Brentford must do their bit against Barnsley and hope QPR do them a favour at West Brom.

Now, there are so many reasons for Bees fans not to be optimistic about the chances of Rangers getting a point or more at The Hawthorns.


QPR are atrocious defensively, have nothing to play for, a history of rolling over in games like this, have been playing without a striker, have lost several players since the season resumed – most recently Bright Osayi-Samuel – and a set-piece against them is as good as a goal.

In fact, you might say that West Brom couldn’t have chosen better opponents for them. And you might have a point.

But come on. There ARE some reasons for Brentford – and of course Fulham – fans to be hopeful. Honestly.

Brentford striker Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins scored twice in Brentford’s 3-1 win at QPR in October

The pressure is on West Brom

It’s a cliche, but it’s true. Albion are under immense pressure – and we know from their recent results that they can slip up in big games.

Rangers on the other hand can play with a freedom that might just give rise to a decent performance tonight. It’s not an absolute certainty that they just won’t turn up. Not an absolute, total, complete and utter certainty by any means.

QPR have some good players

Rangers have been mostly terrible since the restart and have lost players along the way. But they’ve still got some talent. Ebere Eze, obviously, as well as the likes of Ilias Chair. Let’s not pretend there’s nothing for Albion to worry about.

Rangers looked good against Millwall

We’ve all seen the many subtitled versions of the scene from Downfall, where Hitler reacts angrily to the Nazis’ impending defeat/Liverpool’s title win/Sheffield Wednesday’s latest loss/Lincoln selling their striker and so on. There are hundreds of them.

There could probably be a version made for the West Brom scout reporting back to HQ after attending QPR’s game against Millwall on Saturday.

Yes, they were shocking at the back, but the feedback on Rangers going forward will definitely not have been what a stressed Slaven Bilic wanted or expected to hear at this stage.

Rangers looked pretty tasty at times and seemed to rediscover the verve which saw them flirt with the play-off places prior to their recent dreadful, truly dreadful, performances.

Those Albion jitters

QPR’s strikeforce, or lack of one, might just be the worst thing Albion could encounter on such a nervy night for them.

It’s by no means a certainty that Rangers will fail to register a single effort on goal until Jack Clarke drags a shot well wide in injury time. Not a certainty at all.

QPR midfielder Ilias Chair
Pull up a Chair, tonight will be interesting

Either Rangers have Jordan Hugill back and a presence up front they’ve lacked, or they don’t – and the second scenario might not be great for Albion either.

Centre-backs generally hate having to deal with players who drift around and pick up different positions. They like to go up against a proper striker.

And if you’re nervous and frightened of making a mistake, perhaps the very last thing you want is an Eze or Chair buzzing around you, waiting to pounce on any miscontrol or bad decision.

The always enthusiastic Olamide Shodipo refusing to leave you alone is also something you could do without while trying not to make an error.

The shop window

While there’s little at stake for QPR as a team, for some of their players it’s a final chance this season to catch the eye and secure their future at the club or a move to bigger things. The game being televised adds to that.

Incidentally, there is no need for any Bees fan to research QPR’s record in televised games. You don’t need to know that information. Seriously. Don’t.

Rivalry? What rivalry?


Notice that among the reasons I gave for Brentford fans to be downbeat about needing their neighbours to do them a favour, there was no mention of any local rivalry. And I just said neighbours, not rivals.

Bees fans might not usually like this – but may just be comforted by it right now – and some QPR supporters, particularly the younger generation, might disagree, but for many Rangers fans Brentford are just not considered a rival. Sorry.

Until relatively recently, the clubs have mostly been separated by at least two divisions and many QPR fans grew up with derbies against Chelsea being a staple. That’s just how it is.

It’s partly why Brentford tend to play Rangers off the park. That and the fact they’re miles better than them.

So fear not, Bees fans. Those neighbours you’re always slagging off might yet surprise you with the football equivalent of lending you some sugar.

And for those who didn’t heed my advice about looking up QPR’s record in televised matches, I’ve got two words of comfort for you at this difficult time: Dennis Bailey.