Preview: Bristol City vs. Queens Park Rangers - prediction

Bristol City will host Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Saturday afternoon, with both sides heading into the match after midweek home defeats.

The Robins have won each of their last four home games against QPR, scoring two goals on each occasion, while the Hoops travel to Ashton Gate having picked up just one point from their last three matches.

Match preview

© Reuters

Bristol City missed the chance to move into the top 10 and manager Nigel Pearson lost his first home game in charge as Bournemouth came from behind to beat them 2-1 at Ashton Gate.

An own goal from goalkeeper Daniel Bentley moments before half time cancelled out Tyreeq Bakinson 's earlier header, before an 88th-minute winner from Cameron Carter-Vickers snatched all three points for the Cherries.

The Robins now sit just inside the top half of the Championship table, 10 points behind Bournemouth, who are currently occupying the final playoff spot.

Bristol City head into Saturday's encounter with a good record against QPR, having won each of their last six league meetings against them by an aggregate score of 12-2.

Pearson has also previously done well when managing teams against the Hoops - winning five, drawing two and losing only one of his eight league matches against them.

The Robins will be keen to move on from their first setback of the Pearson era and with nine of their next 10 fixtures against teams currently below them in the table, they will be looking to put an impressive run of form together, starting this weekend, as they aim to move into the top six.

© Reuters

QPR lost successive league matches for the first time since early December as they were defeated 3-1 at home to high-flying Barnsley on Wednesday night.

Charlie Austin scored his fifth goal for the Hoops since joining on loan in January, however, strikes from Daryl Dike, Alex Mowatt and Carlton Morris helped the Tykes win back-to-back league matches at Loftus Road.

Manager Mark Warburton felt the combination of "criminal" defending as well as failing to take two early chances in the game prevented the Hoops from picking up any points in midweek.

Despite accumulating 19 points from a possible 24 available since the turn of the year, two defeats in five days has seen QPR slip down to 17th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone.

The Hoops have a poor record against Bristol City and are winless from their last nine meetings against them; they have also failed to win any of their previous 10 league visits to Ashton Gate.

Victory on Saturday could see QPR climb as high as 14th in the Championship, three points behind 10th-placed Millwall, who they face at Loftus Road in two weeks' time.

Bristol City Championship form: LLLWWL

Queens Park Rangers Championship form: WWWDLL

Team News

© Reuters

Bristol City are still without Chris Martin (hamstring), Alfie Mawson (cruciate ligament), Tommy Rowe (knee), Nathan Baker (hamstring) and Andreas Weimann (cruciate ligament).

Jay Dasilva (shin) and Callum O'Dowda (hamstring) are also still unavailable, but both are close to returning to first-team training.

Bristol City striker Famara Diedhiou, who has scored in all four of his starts against QPR, is likely to play up front alongside Nahki Wells.

For QPR, Warburton has no injury or suspension concerns heading into Saturday's match and is unlikely to make many changes to his starting lineup despite successive league defeats.

Experienced left-back Lee Wallace started in the defeat to Barnsley and may keep his place in the side ahead of Niko Hamalainen.

Striker Lyndon Dykes, who has failed to score in his last 17 Championship appearances, could be replaced in the side by Macauley Bonne.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

Bentley; Mariappa, Vyner, Kalas; Hunt, Palmer, Nagy, Bakinson, Sessegnon; Diedhiou, Wells

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Dieng; Dickie, Cameron, Barbet; Kane, Ball, Johansen, Wallace; Chair; Austin, Bonne

We say: Bristol City 2-1 Queens Park Rangers

Despite narrowly losing on Wednesday night, Bristol City have shown signs of improvement under Pearson and will fancy their chances of claiming three points against a QPR side looking to avoid three successive league defeats.

The Hoops have struggled in recent seasons against the Robins, and we expect the hosts to secure another victory against them at Ashton Gate this weekend.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.