Rs hoping to build on success against Barnsley on trip to Wolves

Brent & Kilburn Times: Queens Park Rangers defender James Perch (pic: Scott Heavey/PA)Queens Park Rangers defender James Perch (pic: Scott Heavey/PA) (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

James Perch insists Queens Park Rangers can spring a surprise when they visit runaway Championships leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

The Rs head to Molineux off the back of 1-0 win at home to Barnsley in the league on Saturday — a success that moved Ian Holloway’s men 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

At Wolves, though, the west Londoners will start as huge underdogs with Nuno Santo’s men currently 11 points clear at the top and odds-on to win the title this term.

Defender Perch, though, has faith QPR can cause a shock as they look to do the double over Wolves this term, having beaten them at Loftus Road in October.

“We can’t take our foot off the gas. We go to Wolves who are top of the table, but we won’t be looking at it like that,” he told the club website.

“We won’t be intimidated by them or their crowd. We won there last season and hopefully, we can go there and do it again.

“People are expecting us to get beat, I know they are — but we’re not. We will be dogged and see where it gets us.”

Perch returned from a near six-month injury lay-off for QPR last weekend, helping Holloway’s men keep a clean sheet against Barnsley.

A knee injury had kept the 32-year-old out since the win at home to Hull City in August.

But now back to full fitness, Perch was delighted to make his return at the weekend.

“It was great to get my chance and for us to get back to winning ways,” he added.

“The last time I was out for this long was when I was 23 so I have been lucky with injuries really.

“I stayed away from Loftus Road while I was out because that would have just made it harder for me because I would have wanted to be out there.”

Perch’s return to fitness is a welcome one for QPR, with fellow defender Grant Hall ruled out for the rest of the term.

The centre-back, who only recently returned following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, is set to undergo surgery on his knee and will hope to be fit in time for the start of the 2018/19 season.

“It’s a blow to lose Grant because we always seem to do better when he is in the side. It’s a huge shame for him and the club,” QPR boss Holloway told the club website.