Two teams who have never met in a Premier League fixture go head-to-head at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday with Stoke desperate to halt a run of three successive defeats against mid-table QPR.

It’s been a testing month and a half for Tony Pulis and his men who have seen their Europa League campaign catch up on them with detrimental results. Despite results in Europe appearing positive their domestic campaign is faltering with the Potters managing to win only one of their last eight since beating West Brom at the Hawthorns at the end of August. Since then it’s been a mixture of disappointing defeats and mundane draws with their exploits on the continent taking the sting out of their performances on home soil. Consistency has been a problem with Pulis’ policy of rotating his squad to keep his players fresh not working as well as he’d hoped with members failing to get a long enough run in the side to strike up a chord with the rest of the side. Summer signing Peter Crouch has failed to  have the desired impact with the England striker playing up front with several different partners including Cameron Jerome, Jon Walters and Kenywyne Jones during the course of this season. Stoke’s game is built on pressurising their opponents and using their supreme physical advantages to intimidate, terrorise and bully teams into submission. But their European exploits have left them looking jaded and unable to put their game plan into action. Their 3-1 defeat at home to Newcastle and 5-0 hammering away at Bolton saw the Potters out battled in every area and Pulis must be wondering if the Europa League is worth bothering with if it continues to harm his teams league performance.

QPR on the other hand are enjoying a superb first season back in the Premier League following their relegation back in 1996. The R’s are sitting a place above Saturday’s opponents, albeit on goal difference, and will be confident of moving clear of them when they travel to the Potteries. Neil Warnock’s side have picked up half of their 12 points on the road and another three will move them firmly into the top half of the table. The club have benefitted substantially from the investment of new owner Tony Fernandes with new recruits Joey Barton, Luke Young and Shaun Wright-Phillips giving them an extra dash of Premier League experience which is something they were severely lacking in the opening weeks of the campaign. That knowledge of how to win games and overcome adversity will be key against Stoke’s bruising tactics with Barton likely to relish mixing it up in the centre of midfield. His performances since signing from Newcastle have been nothing short of superb with his fiery temper being tamed by Warnock with the odd-couple proving there is enough room in the Loftus Road dressing room for the both of them. Despite losing the last two games one positive that has emerged form the defeats to high-flying Manchester City and Tottenham and that has been the goalscoring displays of Jay Bothroyd. The England striker has struggled since his summer move from Cardiff but finally broke his duck at White Hart Lane before hitting another against the league leaders a week later. The international break killed that momentum but Warnock will need him to get back on the goal trail if they are to come away from Stoke with points under their belts.

Stoke – 12th

Last Five

Lost 5-0 v Bolton (A), W 2-1 v Tel Aviv (A), Lost 3-1 v Newcastle (H), Lost 2-1 v Liverpool (H), Lost 3-1 v Arsenal (A)

Potential Starting X11

1. A. Begovic 28. A. Wilkinson 17. R. Shawcross [C] 39. J. Woodgate 12. M. Wilson 16. J. Pennant 40. W. Palacios 24. R. Delap 26. M. Etherington 19. J. Walters* 25. P. Crouch

Injury News

Tony Pulis has no new injuries to worry about with Mamady Sidibie  out long-term with a knee tendon problem.

Key Player

Jon Walters – It’s been a solid year or so in Stoke colours for Walters who has become an integral part of Pulis’ side and has forged himself a reputation as a consistent Premier League performer. His work ethic and willingness to run himself into the ground for his teammates has endeared him to the Britannia faithful and the physical aspects of his game will be key to unsettling a timid QPR defence.

Match Fact

This fixture will be Stoke’s 22nd of the season and first against QPR in the Premier League. That last time these two met was in the Championship in March 2008 just a few weeks before the Potters were promoted to the top flight.

QPR – 11th

Last Five

Lost 3-2 v Man City (H), Lost 3-1 v Tottenham (A), Won 1-0 v Chelsea (H), Drew 1-1 v Blackburn (H), Lost 6-0 v Fulham (A)

Potential Starting X11

1. P. Kenny 18. L. Young 35. A. Ferdinand 6. D. Gabbidon 13. A. Traore 11. A. Faurlin 17. J. Barton [C] 4. S. Derry 10. J. Mackie 32. S. Wright-Phillips* 10. J. Bothroyd

Injury News

Neil Warnock has no fresh injury concerns with Kieron Dyer, Rob Hulse, DJ Campbell and Matt Connolly all out expected to be in the treatment room for long periods.

Key Player

Shaun Wright-Phillips – The former Man City winger has seen new life breathed into his career since moving to the R’s and is benefiting from a regular run of first team football. With Stoke’s back four not renewed for being the quickest over long stretches his combination of pace and skill will be a vital component to unlocking one of the toughest defences the Premier League has to offer.

Match Fact

Rangers comfortably beat promotion hopefuls Stoke the last time these two sides met in 2008 with a Mikele Leigertwood double and a second half Akos Buzasky goal giving them a 3-0 victory at Loftus Road.

Last Time at the Britannia Stadium

Championship, 27th November 2007

Stoke 3-1 QPR

Cresswell, 5 Lawrence, 19, Cort 77

Vine 63, Blackstock S/O, 47

Attendance: 11,147

Referee: Uriah Rennie

PREDICTION

Stoke have been poor of late and it seems that their Europa League campaign is catching up with them. Their last two league games has seen them concede eight goals which will have set alarm bells ringing in Pulis’ mind. The way they were brushed aside so easily by Newcastle in their last home game was extremely surprising and he’ll be demanding a much improved performance this time around. QPR have been decent on the road and will go into the game with confidence after narrowly losing against leaders Manchester City before the international break. However if the Potters are at their bruising best then Warnock’s side better batten down the hatches and prepare for an aerial assault.

Score: 1-0

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