Manchester City v QPR: Can Mark Hughes gain the ultimate revenge on City's owners?
On December 19, 2009, Mark Hughes was axed as Manchester City manager and instantly replaced by Roberto Mancini. On May 13, 2012, Mark Hughes has the chance of exacting the ultimate revenge on the City board, by preventing City and Mancini from clinching the title.
The former Manchester United striker insists that bygones are bygones and that he is only interesting in keeping QPR up, but secretly he'd love to stick it to those who undermined him by pursuing Mancini behind his back.
Manchester City have one hand on the Premier League trophy and know that victory here will end 44 years of hurt in the top flight. The destiny of the title is in their own hands and you would have to expect Joe Hart and co to get the job done, especially given their emphatic home record. However, did you know that City have only managed to beat the Hoops once in their past five encounters at the Etihad?
City fans are too experienced to expect a smooth ride this weekend and there will be a tense atmosphere at the Etihad. The two sides played out a five-goal thriller in November, which City just shaded, and another nerve-jangling 90 minutes is in store for the home fans here.
QPR have really turned on the style at Loftus Road over the past six weeks or so, beating the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Swansea, but can Mark Hughes exact the ultimate revenge by staying up and costing City the title? Despite the tottaly bonkers results of the past nine months, our pundits are not convinced in the slightest.
Manchester City v QPR; Kick Off 3pm May 13 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Don McMahon |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Blackburn |
Terry Kennedy |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Bolton |
Dave Blackburn |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Mark Williams |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Man Utd |
Peter Lee |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Newcastle |
Michael Stout |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Norwich City |
Sue Read |
4 |
V |
1 |
|
QPR |
Arjun Swaminathan |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Stoke City |
Philip Eccleston |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Tottenham |
Mike Richards |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
Swansea |
Jim White |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Wigan |
Alan Moore |
4 |
V |
1 |
|
Wolves |
Chris Cox |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Phil Bundy |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Matt Turner |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Villa fan |
Lynette Ranson |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Blackpool fan |
Phil Trow |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Fulham fan |
Russell Goldman |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham fan |
Matthew Beeby |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
2 |
V |
0 |
Panel Verdict
Manchester City are expected to end 44 years of hurt in front of their own fans and possibly send QPR down.
Home: 31; Draw: 2; Away: 1. TBA 2
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear your views.
