Swansea unsure what to expect from big-spending QPR

Preparations have been made difficult due to number of new arrivals at opponents

Swansea defender Ashley Williams admits the number of new faces at QPR has made it difficult to prepare for Saturday's Barclays Premier League meeting between the sides.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp made no secret of his desire to strengthen the Rs squad during the January transfer window and Tal Ben Haim, Loic Remy, Yun Suk-young, Christopher Samba, Andros Townsend and Jermaine Jenas all arrived at Loftus Road.

Remy is set to miss the Liberty Stadium meeting with a groin problem, but even without the France striker it will be a very different QPR side from that thumped 5-0 by the Swans on the opening day of the season.

And with Redknapp's men desperate to improve their perilous position six points adrift of safety at the foot of the table, Williams knows they will pose a test.

"With a new manager and a team made up of a lot of new players, you don't really know what's going to happen. That's a fact," said the Wales captain.

"We went out and won that game against them on the opening day and that gave us a lot of confidence.

"But that was such a strange day and a lot has happened since then.

"Having said that, we feel like we can win most games these days, especially at home.

"We lost last Saturday at West Ham so we want to get back on track this week."

Swansea are sitting pretty in eighth place in the Premier League table, and have a first major final to look forward to later this month when they face Bradford in the Capital One Cup.

However, even though the Swans are closing in on the 40-point mark and have a Wembley showpiece to look forward to, Williams has vowed there can be no easing up.

He said: "We're in a cup final, we're doing really well and we didn't think that would happen back in August.

"That's football and it's credit to everyone who has worked hard this season.

"But we need results from these next two games against QPR and Liverpool, then we get confidence going into the cup final.

"We want to continue performing well to keep our good form going.

"It's not just about the cup final, we've got points to play for."

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: Look each way for value in The Cote D’Azur Open

With the top nine players in the men’s world tennis rankings all missing this tournament to prepare ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: We could have been on the tour of Siberia over past 72 hours

When cyclists look back on their careers spanning many hundreds (and in some cases possibly thousand...

by Martin Ayres

Nike kit deal puts England at No 2 in the world (but which country is top?)

As England’s new football strip – made by Nike – is revealed today, new research shows the English F...

by Alex Miller

       

Day In a Page

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

Masculinity in crisis?

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
Have US shock jocks gone too far?

Have US shock jocks gone too far?

An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
Heavenly Bodies

Heavenly Bodies

Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell
'He will always be a friend': Jackie Stewart backs Polanski

'He will always be a friend'

Jackie Stewart backs Roman Polanski
The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in