The City boss is hoping that currently appointed referee Mark Haywood will stand up to QPR's tactic of looking to influence the referee and told the CT: "I think it's important that we get a strong referee at Loftus Road because QPR have got players who look to influence the referee.
"That's not a criticism. "It's just that they have got some strong characters and, although we're a lot tougher than we were. I still think that at times we're too nice for our own good."