PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: QUEENS PARK RANGERS V CHELSEA FC

The wait for the fourth league game of the season is nearly over. Club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton point the way to the north of the borough for this re-established west London derby…

TALKING POINTS
An unforgettable summer of British sport drew to a close this week, but let's not forget that it really kicked off on 19 May, when the start of the London 2012 torch relay was marked by London's first ever triumph in the Champions League by Chelsea.

KEY STATChelsea are the only team in all four divisions with a 100 per cent league record.

The European Cup has been around since 1955, so a win for the capital was almost as overdue as a male Brit winning a tennis major. This week Chelsea were also named the European Club Association (formerly the G-14) 'Club of the Year' for 'outstanding achievement during the 2011/12 season on European and domestic level.'

Yet following the international break we have to remember that our last match was a hugely disappointing 1-4 defeat in the UEFA Super Cup to Atlético.

Last season on the odd occasion the Blues played as they did in Monaco, the media singled out the 'old guard' - they were said to be 'resisting' the manager's strategies, or only rousing themselves for the big occasions.

With several former stalwarts departed, and another trophy on offer, those seem even hollower suggestions.

However, more potential silverware was surrendered and Roberto Di Matteo will have been paying specific attention to defensive organisation after Falcao's performance. There is, of course, the possibility that the league leaders will hand a debut to exciting full-back signing César Azpilicueta (pictured below) too.

Given that the last two matches between our two sides at Loftus Road have been decided by a penalty, there must exist the possibility that Chelsea will extend the club record for penalty goals in successive matches from the start of a season. It is presently three on the spin.

Although the Rs have looked leaky so far this season they have only dropped three points from their last 18 on home soil.

To many Chelsea fans this is about the club standing first in the Barclays Premier League visiting the 19th, but to the hosts this is W12 versus SW6. Some Queens Park Rangers supporters are calling this the match of the season, yet at the time of writing it had still not quite sold out.

KEY TWEETWhich matches do you rate more important in Chelsea's fixtures list than QPR away? #CFCPMB

Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday
Norwich v West Ham 12.45pm - Sky Sports
Arsenal v Southampton 3pm
Aston Villa v Swansea 3pm
Fulham v West Brom 3pm
Man Utd v Wigan 3pm
QPR v Chelsea 3pm
Stoke v Man City 3pm
Sunderland v Liverpool 5.30 - ESPN
Sunday
Reading v Tottenham 4pm - Sky Sports
Monday
Everton v Newcastle 8pm - Sky Sports

Barclays Premier League table
Top		Pld	Gd	Pts.
1	Chelsea	3	6	9
2	Swansea	3	8	7
3	West Brom	3	5	7
4	Man City	3	3	7
5	Man Utd	3	1	6
Bottom
16	Reading	2	-2	1
17	Aston Villa	3	-3	1
18	Liverpool	3	-5	1
19	QPR	3	-7	1
20	Southampton	3	-4	0

Supporters attending the game are asked to note that as last season for this fixture, no alcohol will be served in the away section at Loftus Road. - Chelseafc Official Site.