Just as you think QPR are safe in the Championship and cruising off into a relatively satisfactory and boring summer, all the cards go up in the air again ahead of this Saturday’s visit from promoted Burnley.

QPR (13-14-17 LDWDWL 15th) v Burnley (26-16-2 WWDWWW 2nd)

Sky’s Super Saturday Brunch Spectacular >>> Saturday April 26, 2025 >>> Kick Off 12.30 >>> Weather – Overcast >>> Loftus Road, London, W12

Rest in peace sweet, beautiful, lovingly put together and frighteningly interesting match preview on who’s had the most 12.30 kick offs in the Championship.

No, no, we did important work. Well, LFW’s data guy (not a salaried position) did.

And then Ian McCullough came in, didn’t he? With his big splash. His big exclusive. Marti Cifuentes apparently now so exasperated with trying to get a tune out of a squad put together for him on a laptop, so entirely checked out of his team’s strength and conditioning being phoned in from Dubai, that he’s considering resigning altogether. Cheers Ian. We had an Excel spreadsheet, but okay.

That Cifuentes story has inevitably provoked a huge amount of online chatter and discourse. One of the immediate reactions so far has been to dismiss the story entirely, because it’s in The S*n. And, look, I get it.

The S*n is a reprehensible rag, owned and controlled by one of the world’s uber cunts, edited by his ghoulish minions. This country would have been far, far better off had it disappeared into the sea with The News of the World as it should have done. Incredibly adept at appealing to exactly the demographic it also seeks to demonise, ridicule and ultimately wipe out, it’s coverage of football is a perfect microcosm. It sells you its newspaper, its website (and, of course, its betting service) on the basis of transfer rumours that don’t come true. At the same time, first chance it gets, it demonises you and I as beered up, drug fuelled, violent, idiot scum, running riot through wherever it is this time. Hillsborough. Of course, Hillsborough. They hold you and I in contempt, but you’ll never guess who Arsenal are bidding £80m for this summer…

If it was right every time then we’d have been deducted 15 points and never been promoted into the Premier League in the first place. This piece, however, wasn’t written by a Sun hack. It was written by Ian McCullough, a local journalist who has been in sport his whole life, has covered the QPR beat for years, is well connected and knows what he’s doing.

A lot of this shoot-the-messenger stuff comes across as the sort of fingers-in-ears denial usually more closely associated with the children of divorcing parents determined to convince themselves mummy and daddy still love each other really. In reality, the evidence mummy and daddy aren’t getting on has been there for the best part of a year now.

QPR are never shy of swinging a dick when they think they’ve got a dick to swing. Kieran Morgan plays well for half a dozen games and gets 2,000 words in The Athletic. Koki Saito scores one goal at Hull, at the 30th time of asking, and we’re printing replica shirts in Japanese lettering. Then last season ended brilliantly, we stayed up in fine style having looked dead and buried, we played some fantastic football against the division’s best teams Leicester and Leeds, and we stormed the final two months with last minute goals and televised 4-0 home wins. The manager was the most popular we’ve had here since Neil Warnock, and was getting national attention for his achievements. Yet you never hear him speak beyond the pre- and post-match press briefings mandated by the league.

A regular summer date with this website, of ten-years standing (and there were some bad years/managers among them let me tell you) was kicked down the road and then cancelled. We were told we could have any member of the coaching staff we liked, but not the manager. At the fans forum the manager did not appear. They didn’t even want him in that tightly controlled environment, where 90% of the questions were pre-approved and asked by either Andy Sinton or the head of supporter services. That night we were told another forum with the “people on the football side of the business” would happen later in the season. At a meeting with Christian Nourry in January we were told an announcement on that was “a week away”. In March the club invited questions via email for a Q&A with members of the coaching staff, to be recorded at the training ground, edited, and then put out. Even that, even that, has still yet to surface. If you think that’s a sound relationship, I’d love to sell you a used car.

Rumour and counter rumour. Cifuentes wants more control and is annoyed most of his team has spent the season on the front row of the South Africa Road Stand while the head of sports science, medical, physio and nutrition phones it in from Dubai. His superiors think we're midtable for injuries and the problem is overblown, and don't like that he's been putting it about for other jobs. Like any divorce, both sides will have a strong story they're not shy to tell, people will pick sides, and there will be faults on both ends. We’ll attempt to address both in any subsequent departure article we have to publish.

In the meantime, all of this has turned what was set to be one of the most boring games of football ever played into something mildly interesting tomorrow morning. One of the things I’m most intrigued in is how much cut through has it had with the common or garden, every day, match-going QPR fans. Cifuentes has already been saved by a big crowd reaction in his favour once this season, at home to Stoke. What will the reaction be tomorrow, if any?

A lot of us live online, and consume QPR predominantly through that medium, but thousands still don’t. They have a couple of pints, they go to the game, they see their mates, they go home, they don’t think about QPR again until a week on Saturday (or sometimes Tuesday). They don’t do social media, they don’t do message boards, they don’t read this site. I suspect quite a lot of them see us as freaks and geeks and weirdos. I envy them.

The end of season awards announced this evening are quite instructive on this. If you predominantly consume QPR news and engage with the club through Twitter and “Insta”, you’d think Jonathan Varane was an absolute shoo in for both main awards, and that it’s actually some sort of miracle he isn’t in the running for the overall divisional prize. Meanwhile Sam Field is a basic bitch who shouldn’t even be in the team, and any mention of Paul Smyth is worthy of death by a thousand replies. Then the awards are declared and Jimmy Dunne has swept the board, the players (who I suspect know a bit more about it) think Sam Field is next, and Paul Smyth takes goal of the season. Twitter is not life, or society, or that important. It puts the vocal into vocal minority.

Jimmy Dunne, another who may not be here next season, certainly deserves his day in the sun tomorrow as unanimous player of the year from both the fans and the players. The people who travel the country with this team know. The people who play for this team every week know better. They’ve both reached the same conclusion.

Dunne came here to win promotion to the Premier League. He’s battled on through four years, five managers, two relegation scraps, multiple crises, ridiculous cratering form of the team, several troughs in his own performance, the death of his father, the reinvention as auxiliary right back, and he’s been committed to it all, and to us. He chucks himself at every game, every week. Is it always perfect? Is it fuck. But he has been the team’s best player, for 18 months, on both sides of the ball. He’s a key reason we didn’t get relegated this season and last. The week his dad died he flew back from Ireland the day before the game, played, scored, got man of the match. That’s the sort of man we’re talking about with Jimmy Dunne. I’m in awe of somebody who can do that – I went through that bereavement 25 years ago and I’m not over it now.

I love him. I love the way he’s repeatedly bounced back from adversity. I love the way he’s reinvented himself under multiple managers all with different styles. I love the way he just went out to right back and made it his own. I really love how angry he is when we lose - not enough people at QPR are. It does bloody matter. Get mad, you fuckers, get mad. Jimmy gets mad when we lose.

You need people like Jimmy Dunne at your club if you’re to get anywhere. You let them go at your peril when you have them. If he’s leaving, he’s leaving. I’d shake his hand. I don’t begrudge him it. I think he’s been exemplary, often when surrounded by a complete circus. I think it’s fantastic that he’s been recognised by players and fans, albeit fairly tragically in what could be his last game at the club.

Will tomorrow be a celebration of that? Or a protest at his, and likely his manager’s, impending departure? Choose your fighter. The fans have a choice and a chance tomorrow, that’s why the Cifuentes story broke this week when there was a home game left. You’re in charge tomorrow. Make your voice heard, or go gentle into that good night.

Links >>> Parker is as Parker does – Oppo Profile >>> A debut to forget – History >>> Linington in charge – Referee >>> Burnley Official Website >>> Turf Moor – Ground Guide >>> No Nay Never — Podcast >>> Lancashire Telegraph — Local Press >>> Up The Clarets — Message Board

Below the fold

Team News: QPR remain without a litany of first teamers, and one would think are highly unlikely to be rushing anybody back into action at this stage although Ilias Chair did come back from his third injury of the season with a late cameo against Swansea. Jake Clarke-Salter, Steve Cook, Zan Celar et al have long been done for the season. You can probably add to that Sam Field, Koki Saito awaits a scan on his dislocated shoulder and Paul Smyth is on game two of three for slugging a Preston player in the balls – that’s how Houdini died, you know. Michi Frey and Karamoko Dembele both came on from the bench last week, the latter scoring QPR’s consolation while the former was penalised every time he breathed, so both may start here. Emmerson Sutton made a senior debut from the bench against Swansea so it would be exciting to see more of him.

Burnley, if they’ve got anything about them, have been on the piss all week. They have been on the piss all week, right? Right? This thing on?

Elsewhere: Even televising half the fixture list every weekend, and leaving it until three weeks before the final rounds of games to make their picks, Sky have somehow managed to butcher their picks for the penultimate set.

The blind obsession with the three teams at the top has left them with a complete dead rubber between Stoke and Sheffield Red Stripe for their Friday night as well as our largely meaningless game against Burnley tomorrow lunchtime. Then a Monday night football between Leeds, who are promoted already, and Bristol City who are all but secure in the play-offs.

Meanwhile, down at the bottom, an extraordinary set of results last week means that, while seven teams are still realistically sweating on the three relegation places, two massive six pointers between four of them – Preston (18th, 49 points) v Plymouth (24th, 43 points) and Hull (20th, 48 points) v Derby (21st, 46 points) – remain uncovered. Likewise, Cardiff’s final home game against West Brom who sacked Moany Towbray this week.

Plymouth and Cardiff would both be relegated if Derby or Luton better their result.

Oxford, on 49 points, are close but not quite there ahead of a home game against a Sunderland side that has been resting up for the play-offs for weeks.

Middlesbrough, at home to Norwich, and Millwall, at The Den against Swanselona, both really have to win to keep their hopes of pipping Frank Lampard's Coventry to the final play-off spot alive. Norwich’s two wins from 14 have persuaded director of football Ben Knapper that Johannes Hoff Thorup isn’t the manager for them after all and Jack Wilshere takes caretaker charge of the Canaries this weekend.

Bristol City are guaranteed play-offs if they win. A point will be enough if Middlesbrough, Millwall and Blackburn all fail to win. They’re in the top six regardless if Middlesbrough and Millwall lose and Blackburn fail to win. Coventry are likewise guaranteed play-offs if they win and Middlesbrough and Millwall fail to win. A point will be enough if Middlesbrough and Millwall lose and Blackburn fail to win. I'll take Great Lakes for $3,000.

Sheff Wed v Pompey and Blackburn v Watford are taking place for want of something better to do with their time. Sheff Wed are yet to win a home game this season at 3pm on a Saturday (they’ve only won six at home in total) and this is their last chance to correct that.

Referee: After the chaotic refereeing of QPR’s Easter fixtures, it will hopefully prove something of a relief to have the Championship’s most experienced, and often best, referee in charge this Saturday. Details.

Form

QPR: Well, we didn’t want the research to go to waste, and that Liam Morrison stat is dead now as he loses a game as a QPR starter for the first time at the 14th attempt, so as we come to the end of year one of Sky’s latest three-year broadcast deal with yet another 12.30 kick off at Loftus Road let’s crunch the numbers on just how much it’s wrecked weekends for people who are involved with kids football/need to get ten pints in them before they can stand to watch our goal kick routines.

It will surprise nobody that QPR have had the second most 12.30 kick offs – 12 (six home, six away), level with West Brom and behind only Coventry on 13. Rangers infamously set a club record for home games without a win at the start of the season (nine in the league, 11 in all comps) but they also didn’t get a 3pm kick off at Loftus Road until game seven of that run, against Portsmouth. Pompey are interesting, because Fratton Park has become something of a fortress for them – just two defeats in the final 16 games on the South Coast and 11 wins including nine in a row at one point sealing their position in the division for next season. Portsmouth have also had the most Saturday 3pm kick offs. Up to you if you think that’s linked. QPR didn’t do too badly for Saturday 3pm’s overall with 18 (nine at home, nine away) – 17 is the average for the division. Sky Sports Leeds, not surprisingly, have had just nine Saturday 3pms all season, and just two away from home. Sheff Wed are yet to win a home game on a Saturday at 3pm.

Having not won any of their first nine home league games, QPR are now on a run of five without a victory at Loftus Road stretching back to Valentine’s Day against Derby. They’ve gone from winning seven of eight games on this ground to drawing three and losing two of five. The Swansea loss was the first defeat in five, a run that had secured Championship status, but the victories away at Oxford and Preston are now Rangers’ only wins in 11 league games. Michi Frey’s goal at Preston moves him onto nine for the year – we haven’t had a scorer in double figures since Andre Gray got ten in 2021/22. Own Goals remains tied for third top scorer with four, along with Rayan Kolli.

QPR have won just one of their last seven home league games against Burnley (D3 L3), a 2-0 victory in the Premier League in December 2014. Burnley have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five league games against QPR, with the exception being a 2-1 home loss in April 2023.

Burnley: I’m not giving it Bertie Big Potatoes here because we said Luton would finish third, but in our season preview back at the end of July we said Scott Parker and Burnley would finish second in the league and win promotion by spending a lot of money on a lot of players to start with, topping that up with a gratuitous half dozen additions in January of which few would actually play, keep a load of clean sheets, draw a lot of games 0-0, be borderline unwatchable, and go up with something to spare.

Burnley signed 16 players in the summer transfer window, and five in January for around £46m. Before we get letters, they also let 29 go from Vincent Kompany’s scattergun LinkedIn fluffing for an intake of around £90m. They are currently second, with 94 points – if both they and Leeds win their remaining two matches it’ll be the first time ever two teams have been promoted from this league with 100+ points. Burnley have lost only two games all season – away at Sunderland in August, and away at Millwall in November almost six months ago. They come into this match unbeaten in a club record 31 league games. They have conceded just 15 goals, kept 29 clean sheets, and hold the record for the number of 0-0 draws in a Championship season – 12. Just as Sheff Utd blinked, they turned those draws into wins – after five draws in seven through January and February they’ve since won 11 and drawn three of 14 league games with the addition of Sporting’s former Spurs youngster Marcus Edwards on loan in the winter window key to transforming a previously lacklustre attack. The extra cutting edge has seen draws turn to single goal wins – each of their last five wins have been by a single goal, and the last four have all been 2-1.

This is, needless to say, the best defence in professional football at the moment, conceding 15 goals – 14 fewer than any other EFL side. They are yet to let in more than one goal in any league game. If they do not concede in final two games, they will equal all-time record for fewest goals conceded in Football League season (15 by Preston in 1888-89 & Chelsea in 04-05). The record in a 46-game season is 20 by Gillingham in 1995-96. Record in second tier is 18 by Liverpool in 1893-94 (22-game season). Record in 46-game second tier season is 28 by Sunderland in 1998-99. If they do not concede at Loftus Road, the Clarets will equal the all-time English record for most clean sheets in a league season – Port Vale’s 30 in 1953-54. The 29 they have is already a season record for the second tier. A draw or more here sets a club record for 16 unbeaten away league games.

When they do score, it’s often Josh Brownhill. His two against Sheff Utd sealed promotion last week and take him to 16. Eight of those goals have been the game decider – no Championship player has scored more winning goals this year.

James Trafford can equal record of most league clean sheets in season - 29 by Port Vale’s Ray King (53-54) and Gillingham’s Jim Stannard (95-95). Trafford has conceded just 15 goals despite having an xG against figure of 36.3. That record of conceding 21 goals fewer than xGA is at least ten better than any other side this season.

He’s thrown a kettle over a pub, what have you done?

Prediction: In our Prediction League for 2024/25 we’ll once again be handing out prizes for being top at Christmas and overall winner from The Art of Football - sample the merch from our sponsor’s newly extended QPR collection here. For the first time last year we had joint winners so this season you’ll be hearing from one or both WestonsuperR and SimplyNico in the match previews...

Nico’s Prediction: “We have arrived at the final home game of the season, and have just promoted Burnley as our guests. In a week in which Marti has been expressing his exasperation at the extent of the injuries we have had to deal with this season, we have most of the recognised first team out again, injured for the most part. Given that we have no pace or trickery in the team when Saito and Smyth (the latter banned, not injured) are not available, look forward to a shut-out against the meanest defence in the Championship. We also have no recognised holding midfielders in the team. A long afternoon at the office beckons, with no score from QPR.”

Weston’s Call “With the speculation this week have to wonder if this will be Marti’s last home match for us, for what it’s worth I really hope this isn’t the case. I wonder if many managers would avoided relegation (twice) with what he inherited and has had to work with. Despite Burnley still going for the title so no reason for them to be ‘on the beach’ I have a feeling we will perform in this one and fancy us to get a point. Hard fought draw for me.”

Nico’s Prediction: QPR 0-2 Burnley. No scorer.

WestonSuperR’s Prediction: QPR 1-1 Burnley. Scorer – Michi Frey

LFW’s Prediction: QPR 0-0 Burnley. No scorer.

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Pictures - Ian Randall Photography

snanker added 04:34 - Apr 26 Top job Clive, informed, erudite & spot on article with the right mix of ironic humour. Only available at QPR !!! Marti out the big ?
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062259 added 05:16 - Apr 26 Intrigue
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062259 added 05:16 - Apr 26 Intrigue
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extratimeR added 09:44 - Apr 26 Thank Clive I wasn't worrying to much about Marty leaving, (( I love him), but after reading your article I am now! Cheers, great round up, dead right about the S×n!
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TacticalR added 12:20 - Apr 26 Thanks for your preview. Dunne has had some lows as well as highs, but over time has become a rock that everyone relies on. I wouldn't begrudge him going either, but it would be a shame if it all ends with a whimper rather than a bang. I really hope Cifuentes is not going. His arrival is the only good thing to have come out of getting rid of Warburton (after the disasters of Beale, Critchley and Ainsworth). If Cifuentes could have one stable season without firefighting we might be able to assess how good he really is.

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barrow1975 added 15:04 - Apr 27 Spot as ever, Clive. May the Board keep the faith. Stability is key not starting all over again in the managerial merry go round. In Marti do we trust. He has worked miracles with what he has inherited. The mess without him does not bear thinking about. Rome was not built in a day. It will take time and we have to be patient. Learn from past mistakes. Look back to 1981 and the arrival of Terry Venables and what followed......

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