Up against the Super Hoops

After Charlton's performance at Ipswich on Tuesday, that experienced old hand Mick McCarthy said he couldn't believe that we were in the bottom three. After the disastrous, Fraeye Up period Charlton have improved and have moved up the form table. (The Addicks are currently 7th and the Super Hoops 11th). If we had the likes of Bauer and Kashi back from injury, the great escape might possible.

As it is, Gudmundsson, who has been coming back into form, is a doubt after he picked up a head injury colliding with a tractor on Tuesday.

I am not too hopeful about tomorrow and that seems to be the view of the bookies. Odds: QPR 20/23, Draw 13/5, Charlton 3/1.

QPR have won each of their past three home games against the Addicks. Charlton have won their past two matches against QPR, but haven't won three in a row since a run of five in October 1997. Charlton's past five goals against the Hoops have been scored in the second half.

Charlton have conceded 19 goals from corners this season - only one other side (Fulham - 13) has conceded more than 10.

To me, QPR have always been a club with excessive expectations, thinking of themselves as a natural top flight side when their roots were in the Third Division South.

They spent heavily to get to the Premiership and to try and stay there, but they did not spend wisely. The result has been big debts and a continuing wrangle with the Football League about their breach of financial fair play regulations. Net debt is £193m which makes what Charlton owes Roland look pretty modest: QPR finances

Richard Cawley of the SLP notes that the Addicks are probably going down, but at least they are taking it to the wire and going down fighting: Fighting spirit