Q.P.R. v Newcastle. 1.p.m. Sunday.

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QPR v Newcastle 13:00
Loftus Road. Shepherd Bush.W.12.
Sunday, 2 May 2010

TEAM NEWS
QPR are without centre-back Damion Stewart, who is recovering after suffering a cracked skull.

Fellow defender Matt Connolly is out with an ankle problem.

Newcastle defender Steven Taylor could return following a knee problem but Fitz Hall (hamstring) is doubtful and Nile Ranger (ankle) is unavailable.

Jonas Gutierrez will not feature as he has returned to Argentina ahead of his expected inclusion in their squad for this summer's World Cup.


MATCH PREVIEW
Queens Park Rangers are making a habit of attending other clubs' promotion parties. Amazingly, this will be the sixth time in eight years a side has clinched or celebrated promotion against the west Londoners.

Since 2003, Rangers supporters have seen Crewe, Cardiff, Plymouth, West Brom and Wolves celebrate against their team. Now Newcastle fans will descend on Loftus Road in their thousands to round off the Magpies' title-winning season.

A carnival atmosphere is expected, and Newcastle need a draw to become only the fourth club to end a second-tier campaign with 100 points or more - a feat previously achieved by rivals Sunderland in 1999, Fulham in 2001 and Reading in 2006.

Rangers hope another summer of spending enables them to follow in Newcastle's footsteps. They have won their last two matches and could secure a top-half finish, while the champions are unbeaten in 16 and looking for a fifth consecutive away victory.


MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• These clubs have met 37 times in the league. QPR have won 16 of those matches and Newcastle 15, with six drawn.

• Rangers' 3-0 win in the Premier League at Loftus Road in February 1995 is their only victory in six against the Magpies.

Queens Park Rangers

• QPR have lost only one of their last eight home matches and have failed to score in only two home games all season.

• The R's and Scunthorpe are the only teams not to have been involved in any goalless draws in the Championship this season.

• Rangers have won all seven league games in which they have kept clean sheets, and lost all 12 in which they have failed to score.

• If selected, Lee Cook will be making his 200th league start and Peter Ramage will face his former club.

Newcastle

• Newcastle have won 29 league matches this season - more than any other Championship side.

• They have scored more (89) and conceded fewer goals (35) than any other team in the division.

• It is four years since the Magpies won their last league game of the season.

• Wayne Routledge is set to face his former club, while Joey Barton could make his 200th career appearance and Danny Guthrie his 100th league appearance.


MOST RECENT MEETING

Newcastle 1-1 QPR (30 September 2009)

Newcastle scorer: Harewood 70.

QPR scorer: Watson 7.

Our last game in the fizz division!