Bridges in line for first start at QPR

Aug 26 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

MICHAEL Bridges will make his first start since returning to Carlisle as the Cumbrians take on Championship high rollers QPR tonight.

After impressing in a handful of appearances from the bench, the striker gets a chance to make an impact from the start alongside striker Gary Madine, who turned 18 on Sunday. Manager John Ward does not intend to weaken his side significantly at Loftus Road in a game he sees as a “fantastic opportunity” for his promotion hopefuls to prove their pedigree, but he will reshuffle.

“We’ll be looking to make one or two changes for the game – not in terms of weakening the team because we’ve got a lot of guys who aren’t starting games who could be considered first team players,” he said.

“It’s a smashing game for us against a top 10 side in the Championship. Loftus Road is a great ground to go to and a great pitch to play on, and I know that Iain Dowie will have QPR playing football the right way. I’m sure that will suit us because we like to get the ball down and knock it around too.

“It’s a fantastic experience for our team and it’s a great opportunity for them to prove that they can handle their own against a team who have spent heavily and will hope to be in the promotion mix come the end of the season.”

The trip to Loftus Road is Carlisle’s second journey to the capital within a few days, coming after Saturday’s goalless draw at Leyton Orient. A point apiece was a fair return from a game overshadowed by Scott Dobie’s controversial sending-off for violent conduct.

Dobie misses the next three games, starting with the Loftus Road clash, but fellow forward Danny Graham is fit despite suffering an ankle injury in the second half of the Orient game.

Cleveland Taylor may also get a chance to stake his claim, while the chance to name seven subs may also see Ward give youngsters Jeff Smith and Darren Campion a place in his squad. The Carlisle manager is looking to build on Saturday’s battling performance: “I was pleased with it – it was a reasonable point at a ground that is not an easy place to play.”