On the Friday pre match talk, coach Mark Hughes had defined the importance of this game and the next six that will come after.
The team were aiming for a positive result against the Latics to confirm the mentality of avoiding relegation by starting to gain points against rivals because these results will help Rangers when they will face up bigger teams at the end of the season. The players responded extremely well to the coach’s desire to win this match with a convincing victory over unfortunate Wigan at Loftus Road. Hughes changed three players from the last game against Newcastle and gives a call to Fitz Hall, captain Joey Barton and DJ Campbell, with Danny Gabbidon ( who scored against MK Dons in the last match of FA Cup this week ) with Shaun Derry and Jay Bothroyd sitting on the bench. Coach Robert Martinez changed three players from the last match for the Latics on Monday night against City: Steve Gohouri, Emmerson Boyce and Ben Watson replaced Antolin Alcaraz, Ronnie Stam and Albert Crusat.
Due to the significance of the match for both teams, the game's first 30 minutes showed the fear to lose for both teams and Rangers started nervously without creating anything dangerous in the opposition box. The result changed at the 32 minute when Heidar Helguson slotted home from the spot after James McCarthy handled in the box and after that a brilliant costless-kick of Akos Buzsaky brought QPR to 2-0 at half time. In the second half the Latics came back with a strike from Hugo Rodallega with this goal of equal brilliance then the previous one. After Tommy Smith blasted home from 25 yards to complete the win following Helguson’s failure to convert a second penalty.
Now with this fundamental victory they are out of the bottom three and they are ready to face Chelsea at home next Saturday at 12.00 in the FA Cup before going to Birmingham to face Aston Villa who today played brilliant football winning 3-2 against Wolves, with two goals from Robbie Keane, on loan from L.A. Galaxy. On the other hand, the Latics prop up the rear of the of Premiership and what makes more doubts about their permanence in the top division is the fact that they are the worst scoring record in all four divisions of English football. In the next match Wigan will face Spurs away on Tuesday 31st of January and then Everton at home on Saturday the 4th of February.