Harry Redknapp came up against Tottenham Hotspur for the first time since being sacked by them when they visited his new side Queens Park Rangers this afternoon.
It proved to be a match that was dominated by the visitors, but they were unable to break down a stubborn QPR side who battled hard for their manager.
You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Morning all. So, we've got a London derby to start the Premier League weekend. Not a bad way to get off and running, is it? And of course, this match is so much than just another derby...
A lot of the talk heading into this one, quite predictably, has been about Harry Redknapp. This is the first time he has come up against Tottenham since he was sacked by them in May. Naturally he's played down his reunion with Spurs, but you cannot help but feel that a victory today would taste even sweeter than normal.
He has also moved to play down speculation that he does not have the best of relationships with his opposite number Andre Villas-Boas:
"As I have said before, Villas-Boas didn’t take my job — it wasn’t my job as I didn’t have one.
"Someone is going to take the job so why should I dislike him? I don’t even know him.
"Sometimes I see other managers after the game for five minutes and then I won’t see them until the next time we play."
Anyway, that's enough from Harry for now because the team lists are in...
TEAMS:
QPR: Cesar; Onuoha, Hill, Nelsen, Fabio; Derry, Wright-Phillips, Mbia, Park, Mackie; Taarabt
Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Naughton; Sandro, Dembele, Lennon, Bale; Adebayor, Defoe
Let's start with QPR shall we? Redknapp has opted to start with Adel Taarabt as a lone striker, with Jamie Mackie providing the support from an advanced midfield role. There is also a place for Park Ji-Sung, who recovered from a leg injury. Manchester United loanee Fabio will also feature at left-back.
As for Spurs, Emmanuel Adebayor will start his last game for a few weeks as he is about to join up with his Togo teammates at the Africa Cup of Nations. Also starting is Gareth Bale, who recently served a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards. He has taken the place of Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Looking at those two teams, the key players for QPR today could well be Nedum Onuoha and Fabio. The two full-backs will come up against Bale and Aaron Lennon, who are arguably two of the best wingers in the Premier League, if not European football. Keeping them quiet won't be easy, but if the R's can find a way it will give them a real chance of picking up maximum points.
If QPR supporters are looking for any positives, they can take some from the past meetings between these two sides. Spurs have only won once at Loftus Road in the Premier League era and that came back in 1995. Teddy Sheringham bagged a brace for Tottenham on their way to a 3-2 victory.
Just going back to those lineups, for those wondering why Esteban Granero is not included for QPR - it is understood that the Spanish midfielder is suffering with a hamstring injury. It's highly unlikely that if he had been fully fit, he would have been named in the team.
Right, let's discuss this supposed tension between the two managers. It goes back to Redknapp's recent comments where he said that only a "real dope" would fail to make a success of managing Chelsea. Of course, Villas-Boas lasted just nine months at Stamford Bridge before he was sacked in March of last year.
Here's what Redknapp said: "You'd have to be a real dope to mess it up with [the likes of] Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Frank Lampard."
Redknapp has since denied that the comment was aimed at his Portuguese counterpart.
In response, Villas-Boas said:
"You have to be able to access a club like that to experience it. Chelsea is a high-profile club where media attention is high and everything is scrutinised and it's a different type of environment."
Perhaps there is a little dig at Redknapp there at the fact that he has never managed a club challenging for the league title and Champions League on a regular basis. Should all make for an interesting pre-match handshake!
Good old John Motson has just summed up these two bosses perfectly over on BBC Sport.
Here's what Motty had to say: "QPR boss Harry Redknapp would surely get particular satisfaction out of seeing his team get a result against his former employers, now led by Andre Villas-Boas.
"This really is a clash between two very different personalities. Villas-Boas is famed for his meticulous scouting and preparation but is still desperate to prove himself after a chastening experience at Chelsea. Conversely, Redknapp has taken charge of more than 1,200 games, and is very much from the old school of management."
With just over 15 minutes until we get underway, why not give our preview of this match a read courtesy of Danielle Joynson. She's backing 2-1 to Spurs. I'm going to say Spurs will score twice, but I also fancy QPR to score two goals. With the attackers that are on show, surely there will be goals.
One player that could be playing his last Premier League and Queens Park Rangers match is Ryan Nelsen. The veteran defender has been appointed the new manager of MLS side Toronto FC and reports have claimed that he will take full charge on Tuesday. If that's the case, QPR will miss him because he is a top professional who could help them out over the months to come.
Right, the players are in the tunnel. It looks a little cramped in there! We've also just seen a banner from a Spurs supporter saying that they still love Harry Redknapp - just not today!
There's a really good atmosphere inside Loftus Road this afternoon. You get the feeling that the home faithful know how important a win would be today. If they were to lose and the others around them gain victories, they will be cut adrift.
There was also no sign of any animosity between the managers. Not only did they shake hands, but they also shared a little hug! Wasn't expecting that I must say.
Right, QPR, kicking from right to left, get this important London derby started...
Very little has happened on the pitch so far but off it the Spurs fans are in fine voice. There may be less of them inside Loftus Road, but they are certainly making themselves heard here.
OFF THE POST! What a strike from Jermain Defoe. The QPR defence gave him far too much space on the edge of the area and the England international lashes a shot against the upright. The rebound fell to Emmanuel Adebayor, but his low strike from 10 yards out is well saved by Julio Cesar. That's an early warning for the home team.
It's only early, but you can see already that QPR need to get more support to Adel Taarabt. Jamie Mackie is trying his best, but they must get even more bodies forward if they are going to trouble Spurs. Taarabt is looking far too isolated at the moment.
CHANCE! First sight of goal for QPR as Taarabt slips Shaun Wright-Phillips into the penalty area. The winger's touch isn't great, but he still gets his shot away. It looked to be heading for the net until Michael Dawson managed to get a block in.
It's all gone a little scrappy, which in truth will suit QPR more. They've stopped Spurs from getting the ball down the flanks and playing in the likes of Bale and Lennon. If they can keep that up, they've got a chance of collecting something here.
Villas-Boas is looking slightly concerned on the bench at the moment. His side have lost all the momentum that they had during the opening exchanges. Since he hit the post, Defoe has barely touched the ball. Having said that, he's the type of striker that you won't see for 20 minutes then he will score.
Could be game over for Tottenham midfielder Sandro. The Brazilian has gone down holding his knee after taking a shot from distance. There was no-one around him and those type of injuries tend to be the ones to worry about.
SUBSTITUTION: That is it for Sandro. He looked in a lot of pain as he hobbled off there. The player to replace him is Scott Parker, who has recently returned from Achilles surgery.
Some neat build-up play ends with Adebayor squaring a pass for Kyle Walker, who in turn scuffs an effort well wide of the target from 25 yards out. Although the finish wasn't great at all, that is much more positive from Tottenham.
Here is how Dion Dublin has summed up the match so far over on BBC Sport:
"At the moment QPR have taken the sting out of Spurs. It's down to their organisation and the way Harry has set them up.
"QPR are not sending many players forward. They are hoping to hold on to 0-0 until half-time and then gamble more in the second half."
It's hard to disagree with any of what Dublin has said there. Redknapp knows the majority of this Spurs team inside out and at the moment it is showing. His side are working extremely hard and are snuffing out any threats.
QPR are defending really, really well at the moment. Every time the likes of Bale, Lennon or Defoe get on the ball, they have at least two defenders to deal with. Whether they can keep up that work-rate remains to be seen but that moment it's working for them.
Every shot Spurs are having at the moment is coming from distance. The latest to try was Parker, but his effort goes well wide of Cesar's goal. Things could easily change, but Tottenham look like a team that are lacking in ideas.
CHANCE! If Wright-Phillips had kept his composure, QPR would be 1-0 up now. He skipped away from Walker with ease but when he got inside the Spurs area, he seemed to rush his shot and the ball went wide of the target. The former England winger should have done much better with that.
We're going to have a minimum of three minutes of stoppage time here...
HALF-TIME: QPR 0-0 Spurs
It would be fair to say that it wasn't the best 45 minutes of Premier League action we have seen this season. QPR won't care though because in fairness, they've defended really well. It's that orgnaisation that has made Spurs look a little clueless at times.
While we wait for the players to return for the second half, here is our first-half report from Loftus Road courtesy of Sian Cowper.
One thing Redknapp will need to work out during the break is how is team are going to score today. They've looked solid enough, but they have posed very little threat going forward. When they have got in the final third, the ball has dropped to Wright-Phillips and he has been extremely wasteful.
Here is the Daily Telegraph's Henry Winter on Twitter, who has summed up that opening 45 minutes:
"R's all tactical discipline and work-rate: Nelsen, Derry, Mbia, Mackie etc. Early saves by Cesar v Defoe/Adebayor."
Right, the players are back out. Tottenham get the second half off and running...
SAVE! An early free kick from Bale moves in the air and forces Cesar to spill the ball. Thankfully for the Brazilian and QPR he reacts quickly and is able to hold at the second attempt.
Opta Joe on Twitter: "Spurs have both scored (72%) and conceded (74%) the highest proportion of goals in the second half of PL games this season (72%). Open."
Surely that means we will some goals this half, won't it?!
CHANCE! So, so close from Walker. It was another free kick for Spurs 20 yards from goal. The full-back bent an effort towards the back post that just whistled over the crossbar. Cesar was just a spectator there. Had the ball been on target, he would have been helpless.
SAVE! There's a lot more urgency about Tottenham now. Cesar, who is having a good game, manages to deny Defoe from 12 yards out with his left leg. QPR need to get a foothold in this match or there is only going to be one winner.
Fair to QPR because once again they have weathered an early Tottenham storm and now look comfortable in defence. They've got the likes of DJ Campbell and Jay Bothroyd warming up so perhaps it won't be long until there is some more attack-minded players on the pitch for them.
Redknapp is currently in deep discussion with his coach Joe Jordan. If he wants to win this match, he must add a striker into the action because the Tottenham centre-backs are having an afternoon off at the moment.
Taarabt has tried to do far too much when in possession this afternoon. There's been a lot of fancy flicks and step overs, which have either resulted in him being tackled or simply giving the ball away. It wouldn't be a surprise if he is substituted at some stage because he is not helping QPR.
SUBSTITUTION: And that will be the last we see of Adebayor for around a month. He is hooked by Villas-Boas and has been replaced by USA international Clint Dempsey.
BOOKING! The first yellow card of the afternoon goes to QPR's Stephane Mbia for handball. He tried to argue that but replays have showed that he doesn't really have a case - it was a blatant handball from the midfielder as he went to challenge Bale in the air.
Some promising build-up play by QPR sees Taarabt play in Fabio. The full-back jinks his way into the area but his low cross just evades Mackie at the back post. That's better from QPR because they have offered very little so far this half. I'd begun to forget what Hugo Lloris looked like!
It's hard to fathom why Redknapp has not introduced another striker into this match yet. Granted his side have defended well and he doesn't want to disrupt that, but they are never going to get the three points playing this way.
SUBSTITUTION: Final change for Tottenham as the pacey Lennon is replaced by Sigurdsson. The England winger does not look too happy with that decision but he hasn't been at the races today.
Another free kick from Gareth Bale, but on this occasion he fails to work Cesar in the QPR goal. Spurs are looking a very frustrated side at present.
Wright-Phillips has been awful for QPR when it has mattered today. Just now he found himself with space inside the Spurs area for the third time, but he completely missed the ball as he went to shoot and the danger is cleared by Tottenham.
We will have two minutes of stoppage time at Loftus Road...
FULL TIME: QPR 0-0 Spurs
Well, you'd guess that Harry Redknapp will be the happier of the two managers. His side were never going to win this with the way that they lined up, but they defended bravely and got their rewards with a share of the spoils.
That's all we have time for from Loftus Road, but stay with Sports Mole throughout the afternoon for live commentaries, reports and match reaction from at home and abroad. Thanks for joining us and enjoy the rest of the action.
