Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

After their renewed joy away from Loftus Road and an admirable display against Chelsea in midweek, QPR return to the day-job of trying to get out of the Championship against one of the less glamorous sides in that division. They welcome Barnsley tomorrow and will be primed to get their first home league win of the season, but as is so often the case, they are unlikely to get everything their own way against a team which is bouncing from their own Carling Cup exploits, having knocked out Premiership side Burnley.

To get that win, QPR will be without defenders Matt Connolly, who is suffering from glandular fever and Fitz Hall, who has returned to training following his groin injury but won't quite be ready for this game. Angelo Balanta is still unavailable through injury as is of course Lee Cook. That means the midfield will be similar to Wednesday night, but Magilton will have to decide if Ben Watson returns and takes Alejandro Faurlin's place after impressing in the win at Cardiff. Adel Taarabt is also ready to start again and I think he will come in for Rowan Vine, despite the latter player showing the seeds of a promising partnership with Jay Simpson. To make up for Connolly and Hall's absence, Kaspars Gorkss and Damion Stewart will continue at centre-back. Another call will be if Mikele Leigertwood keeps his place at right-back; he clearly gives more to the side going forward than Peter Ramage, but questions could be raised about his defensive abilites. Radek Cerny will return to the team despite Tom Heaton's impressive game against Chelsea.

Barnsley had a worse than terrible start to the season, losing four of their first five games which seemed to confirm their credentials as pre-season relegation favourites. It also prompted the sacking of Simon Davey, who managed the Tykes since November 2006, in which time he maintained the club's survival in the second tier and guided them to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1912. The club turned to former Manchester United player Mark Robins to steady the ship and he looks to have done just that. Despite losing his first game narrowly away at Watford, Robins has kept Barnsley unbeaten since with a 3-2 win at Derby County and a goalless draw at home with Swansea. It leaves the Reds poised to exit the relegation places if they could get a victory at Loftus Road and the 3-2 win against Burnley will give them added confidence to get that result.

Robins certainly had a varied playing career. Starting at Manchester United where he was credited with the goal which saved Alex Ferguson's job (he scored the winning goal in a third round FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest with the rumour being that Fergie would been sacked had they failed to win). Unable to establish himself as a first-choice player for United, he went on to play all over England and in Europe as well. He helped guide Norwich City to UEFA Cup football and a win against Bayern Munich and also had lengthy spells at Leicester City and Rotherham United.

It was at Rotherham where his managerial career began and he had a similar rescue job to do there as he now faces with Barnsley. 13 points off League One safety in March 2007, he lifted the club out of the relegation spots and in the two following seasons, challenged for promotion.

As well as steadying the ship on the field, Robins has also been quick to make some additions to the Barnsley squad and has clearly marked the defence out for strengthening. Slovenian international Suad Filkekovic signed on Wednesday on a free transfer which will keep him at Oakwell until at least January and following the Carling Cup win, he nabbed defenders Ryan Shotton and Carl Dickinson, two promising youngsters on three-month loans from Stoke City.

According to the good old BBC, Barnsley don't currently have any major injury concerns and could welcome winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce back into the side. Defender Darren Moore is less certain to come back into the team. All three new signings are also available.

QPR had mixed form against Barnsley last season, coming from behind to beat them 2-1 on the opening day at Loftus Road but they suffered the reverse scoreline at Oakwell with Anderson Da Silva and Daniel Bogdanovic on the score sheet. Particularly at Loftus Road though, QPR have excellent form against the Tykes, who haven't won there in the last 50 years.

It has to be the all-important first home win of the season then. QPR are always a contrary bunch of players which is why I back them against bigger clubs but always suspect they will come a cropper against some of the 'lesser' sides in the league. Their attitude to this game will be key as will the home crowd who can't get on the team's back at the first mislaid pass. Only then will Jim Magilton be able to breathe a sigh of relief at full-time.

PREDICTION QPR HOME WIN