In-depth player stats: West Ham vs QPR
West Ham v QPR 15:00
– West Ham could only muster a well-below par performance against Sunderland last weekend, as they were soundly beaten 3-0 at the Stadium of Light. Chances were in very short supply until it was too late and Sam Allardyce will have no doubt read his side the riot act ahead of this week’s fixture against fellow struggler QPR.
– Mohamed Diame is attracting interest from some of the top clubs in the Premier League after being the heartbeat of West Ham’s midfield for much of this season. The dynamic midfielder has a 60% tackle success rate and 23 interceptions to his name.
– Joe Cole has wasted no time in re-starting his West Ham career, already delivery 8 crosses at a rate of one every 36.5 minutes according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
– Not only is Mark Noble regularly the most energetic player on the field for West Ham, consistently covering the most distance this season, he’s also the fulcrum around which their play develops, having completed a squad-high 401 passes in the opponent’s half.
– However, Noble will be looking for greater consistency in his deliveries from the flank. He currently has the joint highest total for crosses made for only one assist, with 42.
– Kevin Nolan loves to break forward with bursts into the box and may find space to work in what has a been a shaky QPR defence this season. He’s the Hammers’ top scorer with 5 goals, a rate of one every 8.4 attempts he has on goal.
– No West Ham player has contributed more defensively to his side’s cause than Winston Reid this season, making 172 successful defensive interventions according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
– QPR managed to grind out a draw against a Tottenham side who are capable of beating anyone on their day, a result which may indicate that their revival under Harry Redknapp is under way. QPR keeper Julio Cesar was in fantastic form, saving a number of Tottenham efforts, and R’s fans will have taken hope from a performance that was full of hard-running and a battling mentality.
– Adel Taarabt appears to have a new lease on life under Harry Redknapp and he is clearly enjoying his recent purple run of form. He’s getting himself ever-more involved in Rangers’ play, make a squad-high 460 passes in the opponent’s half, as well as chipping in with 4 goals and 3 assists.
– Striker David Hoilett stands almost alone among the Premier League’s strikers in having an impressive defensive record to complement his attacking play. The Canadian has a 64% tackle success rate from 38 attempted challenges according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
– The rest of the QPR squad will need to show some of the same grit and determination being showcased by their captain Ryan Nelsen if they are to escape relegation come the end of the season. The respected Kiwi defender has been throwing himself in the way of the ball with abandon, blocking 26 times this season.
– Esteban Granero may have crossed the ball in 22 times this season, but he will be looking for greater end product from his deliveries as the season moves forward. He’s only managed to register 1 assist so far according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.