West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers go meet tonight for Championship London derby inside London Stadium. Friday night football, full house, under the lights. The match na prime-time game as both sides return from international break.
Before kick-off, London Stadium hold special tribute for late goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko. Fans sing I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles. Tifo of Miklosko show for home end. Claret and blue display span entire East Stand with name Ludo. Former team-mates and friends form guard of honour. Miklosko son Martin lay reef for centre circle. Supporters and players applaud loudly. That moment special and emotional.
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo say international break do Hammers some good. But he insist them must start games better. Hammers don concede first half in eight of their 11 matches in all competitions. Them came from 2-0 down for break against Millwall to snatch late 2-2 draw. Nuno tell BBC Radio London say players need the break. Schedule hectic, them exhausted, break come for good moment. He talk say: We have to start the games much better, we are reacting, we want to be the first team to score.
Nuno also talk about Friday night football. He say: Who doesn’t enjoy Friday night football, London Stadium, full house, under the lights, who doesn’t enjoy that? QPR is a very good team, it’s going to be tough. We expect a tough match, they are a good side.
QPR head coach Julien Stephan admit say his side face tough task against Championship heavyweights West Ham. Hammers start season shaky but now second for table and unbeaten in past six league matches. That run include four wins. Stephan tell BBC London say: We know that we will have a fantastic challenge but a very tough challenge. We play a team that had some top results before the break and have great ability to score and create danger. It’s tough, but it’s as well a lot of motivation.
Stephan also talk about ambition. He say: For sure, this is one of the best teams in the league, with a lot of strengths. It’s a big, big challenge for us. But I think it’s really important mentally to start a game like this with a lot of belief, with a lot of trust. If we start the game without ambition, we don’t have to start the game, we have to stay at home. I can’t accept that. We must start the game with the right mindset, with the right behaviours, with the right understanding. This is how we want to start the game against West Ham, with a lot of respect for them, but with a lot of respect, as well, for our fans.
Team news: Julien Stephan make five changes to Hoops side wey draw 2-2 with Preston. Glen Kamara keep his place. Kealey Adamson, Jake Clarke-Salter, Boy Kemper, Paul Smyth and Rayan Kolli all start. Kolli make first appearance since April. Kemper in side for first time since limping off on opening day in August. Amadou Mbengue, Leon Scarlett and Harvey Vale drop to bench. Dennis Cirkin miss out through suspension. No Rumarn Burrell, though Richard Kone dey among replacements.
Nuno Espirito Santo make one change to Hammers XI wey begin 2-2 draw with Millwall last time out on 19 September. Tomas Soucek make first start of season and first appearance since World Cup in June after ankle injury. Joel Piroe drop to bench. Mohamadou Kante suspended after red card at The Den almost three weeks ago.
One big side story na Glen Kamara and Finland. Queens Park Rangers might have been without midfielder against West Ham if FIFA intervene for club versus country dispute. Football Association of Finland say Kamara, 30, was withdrawn from international duty by QPR before Tuesday Nations League game against Hungary. Head coach Jacob Friis talk say: Glen was in a difficult situation as his club insisted he leave the camp and return to London. He had to make a decision that was obviously not what we wanted. FIFA rules state say player released for international duty must be available to nation for entire window, unless earlier return separately agreed. A withdrawn player may also not play for club five days after end of window, without consent of national team association. Marco Casagrande, general secretary of Finnish FA, tell Helsingin Sanomat say: The regulations are very clear, and in our view, they were not fully followed in this case. FIFA will definitely be informed. The player has not been available for the entire international window, as the regulations say he should be. After that, it’s up to FIFA how they proceed with the matter. Before West Ham game, Stephan say: There is a dialogue between the club and the Finland federation. We will take a decision after that discussion.
Of QPR eight Championship games so far this season, Kamara start three and come as substitute in four. Kamara no feature in Finland opening Nations League game against San Marino. He come off at half-time in second match against Belarus. He then come on after 45 minutes against Albania on Saturday.
West Ham United dey celebrate winning both Championship manager and player of month awards for September. Boss Nuno Espirito Santo oversee unbeaten run last month with four wins from five league games, scoring 18 goals. Defender Konstantinos Mavropanos get prolific September, scoring four goals and helping two clean sheets as Hammers move up to second place. Mavropanos say: I am delighted to win this award, but it was an excellent team effort this month. We had some good results, went on a good run, and obviously this award means that we are doing something good with the team. I am the one who has been given the award this time, but it could have been any of my team-mates, and I am just really happy that we are in a good way right now.
In last home game before international break, four weeks ago tonight, West Ham thump Wrexham 6-0 under lights at London Stadium, which take them top of table. Six days later them fall 2-0 down amid first-half onslaught at Millwall in first derby between sides in 14 years. But them battle back to draw 2-2 before reduced to 10 men when Mohamadou Kante see red in dramatic finale.
QPR take point from each of past three matches. Them peg back to draw 1-1 at West Brom in last away game on 12 September. Them also rally from 2-0 down to snatch point in last game at home to Preston on 19 September. Paul Smyth last-gasp goal make am 2-2 after Hoops play with 10 men from 15th minute after Dennis Cirkin red card.
West Ham were knocked off top of Championship table in final action before international break. Swansea steal march on Hammers a few hours after their 2-2 draw at Millwall. Nuno Espirito Santo side can return to first place, at least until Saturday, with win against Rs. QPR get chance to leapfrog their hosts into second themselves if them fit spring surprise and seal points at London Stadium.
