Ian Holloway's return to Loftus Road this weekend is not unlike a man bringing his new trophy wife to a family function at his ex-spouse's home. And while Olly will be proudly displaying his new-found happiness as manager of Plymouth Argyle, those he left behind at QPR will look on with more than a drop of envy, and wonder whether the split really was for the best.

Plymouth go to London with a spring in their step, lauded for their progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, and comfortably holding their own in the Championship. By contrast, QPR's celebrations this week for taking a point at rock-bottom Leeds show the kind of scraps they are currently feeding on as they hover above the drop zone.

Not so long ago, the passion and commitment that Holloway has breathed into Plymouth were reserved, seemingly till death us do part, for QPR. Taking over in 2001 when it was too late to prevent relegation to what is now League One, Holloway set about rejuvenating the west London club. A heartbreaking play-off final defeat by Cardiff in 2003 was followed by automatic promotion 12 months later, with a thrilling 3-0 home win over Plymouth during that season being one of Holloway's finest games in his five years as QPR boss.

That defeat didn't stop the Pilgrims going up as champions the same season, and the shared experience - allied to a mutual dislike of close rivals Bristol City - generated a bond between fans of the two clubs that is likely to be on display again this weekend.

The home fans' feelings for Holloway come kick-off time are also likely to be sympathetic, despite his bitter parting with QPR early last year, once the first flush of romance had worn off. Holloway was relieved of his duties after eyeing the vacant manager's job at Leicester City. The ensuing months of "gardening leave" finally ended when Plymouth stepped in for him.

Since then he has breathed fire into his new club while at the same time stoking up regional pride in his "Green Army" across the south-west. Among several recruits to the cause, ironically, is QPR club captain Kevin Gallen, another symbol of the Holloway years, but now out of favour and offloaded to Home Park until the end of the season. Gallen's deal, though, prevents him from turning out at Loftus Road tomorrow.

Any hope that QPR may have had that the Pilgrims' cup exploits would make them an easy target in the league were dispelled on Tuesday when they followed their 2-0 cup defeat of Derby with an emphatic 3-0 demolition of promotion-chasing Colchester.

But after nervously scanning the fixture list between now and the end of the season, QPR fans know that tomorrow's game is a "must-win" fixture for them. And as new boss John Gregory looks to cement the affection of the club's long-suffering followers, victory over the one-time darling of London W12 would be a massive step forward.

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