Ruling on subs should benefit Hornets as they travel to QPR

From Friday evening’s fixture between Coventry and Birmingham, Championship clubs will be able to use five substitutes during a match.

For a club such as Watford, recently relegated from the Premier League and in possession of a large squad, there are advantages to be had.

The Hornets have had a positive start to the season under new coach Vladimir Ivic, currently sitting second in the table. With only Reading, who possess a weaker squad, ahead of them.

A rocky start back to life in the Championship has now been followed by one loss in their last seven fixtures as they seek an immediate return to the top-flight of English football.

QPR are performing as many expected them to, currently sitting in 18th position. A win on Saturday afternoon in West London would propel them towards the top half of the table.

Mark Warburton has been keen to give his views on the new changes which have been implemented after discussions with EFL clubs.

“We had it at the end of last season of course, and I felt very strongly that it favoured the bigger squads, the wealthier clubs, in terms of the size and depth of their squad.

“You have three opportunities to use it, so you hope very much it doesn’t slow down the flow of the game, which was an initial fear for many people.

“I do worry about the dynamic of a game, I do worry about a team being 1-0 up away from home – do you take your forward line off and put on three defensive midfielders, for example, to change it?

“It doesn’t go against the rules of the game, so to speak, but it does change undoubtedly the dynamic of that game.

“But I think now the overriding factor has to be the health and welfare of the players.

“This level of toll, this level of loading on individual players is so damaging, the data shows you the injury rate is rising so dramatically.

“We have to look after them and I think this rule, this is common sense coming into play.”                    – QPR boss Warburton on the changes.

Whereas Watford will sense the opportunity to give more minutes to their large squad, the new ruling could present a chance for the youth at QPR.

Charlie Kelman could be one such example. Signed in the transfer window from struggling Southend, the USA youth international scored twice in Rangers’ defeat to Hull for the Under-23’s.

It’s been four days off for the QPR squad over the international break as Championship clubs prepare for the task of nine games in 29 days. Lyndon Dykes and Osman Kakay have both been away with their countries and may not be risked from the start.

Last time they met, Watford triumphed 1-0 to secure an FA Cup quarter-final place through an Etienne Capoue strike. R’s fans will be wishing for a more positive result this time around with fixtures against Rotherham and rivals Brentford on the horizon.

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