Premier League preview: Chelsea v QPR

27 April 2012 10:28

Queens Park Rangers' fight for survival in the English Premier League takes them to Stamford Bridge on Sunday where they meet Chelsea.

Impressive home form - QPR have won their last four fixtures at home, including wins over Arsenal and Tottenham - has seen Mark Hughes' side move out of the relegation zone.

But an 11-match winless run on the road means they are just one point above the relegation zone with three fixtures remaining.

And the first of those is no easy task as Hughes takes his men to sixth-placed Chelsea, who knocked Barcelona out of the UEFA Champions League at the semi-final stage on Tuesday.

"We've got to try to address our away form in the final two fixtures on the road," Hughes said in the build-up to Sunday's match.

"If we can be disciplined and understand what is required against Chelsea then we could get a positive result. It's a great London derby for the fans.

"It would be massive if we could get something positive from the trip to Stamford Bridge and then come back to Loftus Road for a huge game against Stoke."

Hughes believes victory at Chelsea - a side who they beat 1-0 in the reverse fixture in a match that was shrouded in controversy - will play a huge part in keeping the club safe from relegation.

The controversy that surrounded QPR's 1-0 win at Loftus Road in October came largely due the alleged racial comments John Terry made to Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during the match.

Chelsea also finished the match with nine men, but the severity of Terry's alleged racial abuse will see him in court in July facing a criminal trial.

In the FA Cup meeting between the two sides in January, the traditional pre-match handshake was scrapped over fears that Ferdinand would reject any approach from Terry.

But the Premier League confirmed that the handshakes before the match would go ahead on Sunday, meaning that Ferdinand - and perhaps some of his QPR team-mates - are likely to refuse a handshake with the former England captain.

Chelsea will head into the match in a buoyant mood after their 2-2 draw at Camp Nou on Tuesday secured them a spot in the final of Europe's premier club competition, with Roberto Di Matteo's men to take on Bayern Munich in the May 19 showpiece.

Chelsea have lost just one of their last 15 matches in all competitions but will be without defenders Gary Cahill (hamstring) and Ryan Bertrand (calf) for Sunday's match, with David Luiz (hamstring) a 50-50 chance of playing.

QPR will be without midfield duo Alejandro Faurlin (knee) and Kieron Dyer (ankle) but other than that, have no injury concerns.