Prestonvs.QPR

Preston suffered a 2-1 defeat against Leeds United on April 12 and are in 16th place with 49 points, while 15th-placed QPR have one point more and held Bristol City to a 1-1 stalemate on Saturday.

Match preview

The home side were dominated by Leeds, facing over 3.5 xG and 15 shots from inside the box, with their only shot inside the victors' penalty area occurring in the sixth minute.

Preston have proven defensively frail in the past weeks, conceding 10 times in their last five matches.

Given that there are just four games left to play in the Championship season and that the Lilywhites are seven points ahead of 22nd-placed Cardiff City, who occupy the final relegation spot, boss Paul Heckingbottom will be desperate to take all three points on Friday.

However, Heckingbottom's side will have to improve significantly upon their recent performances considering they are winless in five games, losing three times.

While Preston have also not won for three outings at Deepdale - drawing twice - they were undefeated in their prior 15 at home, achieving victory on seven occasions.

As for QPR, they were arguably unfortunate not to win against fifth-placed Bristol City given they created three big chances and nearly two xG, while their opponents generated just under one xG.

To their credit, the visitors' tally of 49 Championship goals is the second best return in the bottom 10.

Manager Marti Cifuentes led his side out to a 2-1 victory against Preston in the reverse fixture on December 21, and they have in fact won their last three encounters against their hosts.

QPR come into the clash having drawn two and won one of their last three, but they did lose five of their previous six.

The visitors defeated Oxford United 3-1 on April 9 in their most recent away match, but they were beaten in each of their prior six on the road.

Preston North End Championship form:

D

W

L

D

D

L

Preston North End form (all competitions):

W

L

L

D

D

L

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:

L

D

L

D

W

D

Team News

Preston goalkeeper David Cornell may be shielded by a back three featuring Jordan Storey, Lewis Gibson and Andrew Hughes.

Defensive midfielder Ben Whiteman may be part of a trio in the middle of the pitch, with Stefan Teitur Thordarson and Robbie Brady likely to play alongside him considering Alistair McCann is unavailable.

Milutin Osmajic and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen partnered each other up front against Leeds, and they can be expected to appear together on Friday.

Meanwhile, QPR attackers Karamoko Dembele, Nicolas Madsen and Koki Saito may support striker Yang Min-hyeok considering forwards Alfie Lloyd, Ilias Chair and Zan Celar are injured.

Jack Colback and Jonathan Varane were stationed in a double pivot last time out, and they are almost certain to start once again.

Elsewhere, centre-back Jake Clarke-Salter's hip injury is set to keep him out until late April, and his absence may lead to the selection of Liam Morrison and Ronnie Edwards.

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Cornell; Storey, Gibson, Hughes; Kesler-Hayden, Thordarson, Whiteman, Brady, Meghoma; Osmajic, Frokjaer-Jensen

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Nardi; Dunne, Morrison, Edwards, Ashby; Varane, Colback; Dembele, Madsen, Saito; Min-hyeok

We say: Preston North End 1-1 Queens Park Rangers

QPR will be the more confident side on Friday given their form of late, but their away record is concerning.

Written by

Lewis Nolan

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