Hoilett: Hammers will rely on long-ball game

Junior Hoilett expects QPR to encounter long-ball tactics from West Ham in tonight’s derby at Loftus Road.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce reacted angrily to Fulham manager Martin Jol’s recent claim that the east London side rely on a route-one approach.

But R’s forward Hoilett, who played under Allardyce at Blackburn, believes the home defence will face an aerial bombardment.

He predicted: “It’ll be the same kind of long balls as it was against Reading. They play off the front man too and we’ll have to work hard to win the second ball.”

Despite another summer of big spending, Rangers are bottom of the table and without a league win.

And Hoilett admits the pressure is on Mark Hughes’ team, who have already been beaten twice at Loftus Road this season.

“We’re playing good and not getting the result and that’s not what we need. What we need is to get that result,” he said.

“Everybody wants that first win. It’ll get a lot of the pressure off us. We need to get that win and push on from there.”

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