QPR plot to stop Sheffield Wednesday 'big strength' as Julien Stephan drops tactical hint

QPR head coach Julien Stephan is aware of which player will be pulling the strings for Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough this weekend and his R’s team have taken steps to prevent the Owls star from causing damage.

The hosts picked up a first win of the Championship season against Portsmouth last time out, securing a 2-0 victory at Fratton Park. It was skipper Barry Bannan who put Sheffield Wednesday ahead with a superb 20-yard free-kick after 20 minutes before a George Brown strike secured all three points.

Bannan has now made 455 appearances for the Yorkshire outfit and, even at 35 years old, is the linchpin in Henrik Pedersen’s side. QPR boss Stephan is aware of the threat the player poses, especially from set pieces.

QPR aware of Barry Bannan threat

He said: “Bannan is a big strength in this team. He organises very well the game and different positions, able to play short, long, good set pieces. He scored a very good free kick against Portsmouth. We have to organise something to reduce his influence.”

The veteran has faced no club in his career more times than QPR, going up against the west London side 18 times in his career. Bannan has been on the winning side seven times with eight draws and only three defeats.

He has two goals and three assists against QPR. He hit the back of the net in the 1-1 draw at Hillsborough last season and picked up an assist in the 2-0 win at Loftus Road.

Speaking about his captain last week, Bannan said: “I think he was a great captain today, one thing is what he does through his actions, how he plays, winning balls, but the other thing is how he supports his players.

“He was great, but today, our best player was the team. How they worked together and the discipline for the game plan, we played a little more direct than we had in the other games, but the clarity today was amazing for the boys.”

Julien Stephan on team selection for Sheffield Wednesday

QPR go into the clash against Sheffield Wednesday buoyed by three back-to-back wins in the Championship. Even with injuries to key stars in Ilias Chair, Kwame Poku and Jake Clarke-Salter, the R’s have not been short of inspiration.

Speaking about team selection, Stephan said: "The best player will play, it's very simple. They have to compete every day to deserve to start ... they have to show me that when they enter on the pitch during the game, they deserve to start the next game. So it's very simple competition.”

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