QPR boss, who grew up as a Rovers fan, travel to Ashton Gate for Good Friday match

Brent & Kilburn Times: QPR's Luke Freeman, seen in action for Bristol City, is looking forward to his return to Ashton Gate. Picture: SIMON GALLOWAY/PA WIREQPR's Luke Freeman, seen in action for Bristol City, is looking forward to his return to Ashton Gate. Picture: SIMON GALLOWAY/PA WIRE (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Queens Park Rangers boss Ian Holloway returns to his hometown Bristol on Good Friday, looking for all three points against Bristol City which would all but end the west London club’s relegation fears.

Holloway came through the ranks as City’s Bristol rivals Rovers before going on to manage the Gas for five years prior to his first stint in charge at QPR.

Given his ties to Rovers, the 54-year-old expects to receive a hostile reception at Ashton Gate tomorrow, but he is eagerly anticipating the clash.

“As a Bristolian from the other side of the town, there isn’t a bigger game for me than going to Ashton Gate,” Holloway told the club website.

He continued: “A lot of their fans will know I’m a proud Bristolian. All the other ones? Well, I couldn’t care less, I’ve got to be honest!”

The Rangers boss is not the only one returning to the West Country this weekend, with Luke Freeman heading back to face his former club.

The 25-year-old swapped relegation-threatened City for QPR in January, penning a three-and-a-half year deal following a £300,000 transfer.

And Holloway expects his recent addition could also be subject to a less-than-friendly welcome upon his return.

“Signing Luke from them won’t have gone down too well either (with their fans), but I’m only as good as they are because I recognised what a good player he is, just as they recognised it,” he added. “He’ll probably get even more stick than me!

“I’m sure I’ll be in for a little bit as well, although I wish they had a different song — it’s quite boring now, but I’m looking forward to it.”

As for any team news ahead of the clash, Holloway was coy, saying: “I don’t want to talk about who I might be playing, or whose fit or not fit.

“I do apologise for that but people will be all over this like a rash – and I don’t want that rash to spread. So let them guess what our team news is!”