QPR boss Mark Hughes admits he has a massive advantage before a ball is kicked in the vital west London derby against Fulham.
Inside knowledge the former Whites manager possesses on all but three of the team likely to face Rangers today has been rammed home to those who in Hoops.
Hughes (pic) was in charge one season at Craven Cottage – 2009-10 – but remarkably the neighbours line-up has barely altered.
Needless to say, Sparky intends to cash in on the strengths and weaknesses he saw every day for 12 months on Fulham’s training pitch.
“It gives you a better insight, and allows me to give my guys heads up on any information that helps them to win a Premier League game,” he said.
“We try to prepare for all matches, but we have a better insight in this game and can give them a lot more detail.
“Fulham’s away form historically hasn’t been good – and we don’t want to encourage to improve on that.
“They are vulnerable but are still a quality side although we have players who can damage their ability to win games.”
However, it looks as if new recruit Samba Diakité will start on the bench with the midfielder getting on depending on how the game goes.
Hughes added: “We’ve seen him in training for a week now and Samba’s everything I though he was.
“He’s energetic and gets around the pitch – and we’ll to introduce him at the right place.”
