Gameweek 28 serves up one final treat for Fantasy managers as Queens Park Rangers welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Loftus Road on Saturday. With no further involvement in the FA Cup, the London clubs are free to play their match in hand as they tussle for points at opposite ends of the table.
All eyes will be on Harry Kane. By virtue of Spurs’ double Gameweek and his run of 12 goals in 11 starts, the 21-year-old forward was the runaway leader in our Captain Poll, claiming 64% of the vote. Kane drew an untimely blank against Swansea in midweek – despite fashioning five shots at goal – but will be encouraged by the R’s inability to keep a clean sheet in their last four home ties. Christian Eriksen bagged an assist against the Swans and will be keenly observed by his 200,000 new owners, while Nacer Chadli’s delicate volley in the 3-2 win reaffirmed his finishing prowess.
All three start in today’s lineup, as Mauricio Pochettino keeps faith with the majority of the XI who earned the midweek win – Danny Rose is the only casualty, having earned an assist against Swansea, he drops to the bench as Ben Davies slots in at left-back.
As for the hosts, QPR are without a win their previous five home clashes, losing their last four in Shepherd’s Bush. Charlie Austin, whose goals (15) account for more than half of the Hoops’ output (28) this campaign, will be the primary concern for Spurs’ rearguard. Elsewhere, with four assists in three starts, a resurgent Matt Phillips has emerged as QPR’s chief creative outlet. Phillips starts his fifth consecutive league outing, as Mauricio Isla returns to the starting lineup on the opposite flank with Junior Hoilett making way to the bench. Rio Ferdinand also returns – he comes in alongside Steven Caulker, as Nedum Onuoha moves to right-back with Darnell Furlong missing out through injury.
