Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Hull City - prediction, team news, lineups

At a time when the Hoops still sit four points adrift of safety, Hull make the trip to Loftus Road occupying sixth position in the Championship standings.

Match preview

When the relatively-unknown Marti Cifuentes was chosen as Gareth Ainsworth's replacement, many QPR supporters may have struggled to get on board with the left-field appointment.

However, they have been quickly won round by back-to-back victories being recorded against Stoke City and Preston North End respectively.

Not since April have the West Londoners put together such a run, and scoring six goals in the process has only helped lifted the mood at Loftus Road.

Four of the aforementioned six strikes have come in the 79th minute or beyond, a statistic that will add to the belief that this is a side that is only trending in the right direction.

With four points still separating them to 21st-placed Huddersfield Town, though, QPR cannot afford to drop off at this stage as they look to bring a whole clutch of teams into a relegation scrap.

Facing a team that has been as solid as Hull this season would usually concern QPR, yet the Tigers have not been at their best in recent weeks.

As well as just seven points coming from five matches, the Tigers required a last-gasp goal to defeat Huddersfield and needed to come from two goals down to earn a draw at Swansea City.

Last time out, Liam Rosenior's witnessed his team lose 2-1 at home to a resurgent Watford outfit, just their second defeat in 10 games at their Humberside home.

On their travels, Hull have 14 points from nine matches, but their only away success in five encounters was against a Birmingham City side that had recently been taken over by Wayne Rooney.

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:

L

D

D

L

W

W

Hull City Championship form:

W

L

W

D

W

L

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Team News

Having provided the assists for each of QPR's goals at Preston, Ilias Chair is in line to be recalled to the starting lineup.

Andre Dozzell's place in the team may be more at risk than Jack Colback's, who he replaced at half time at Deepdale.

Meanwhile, Rosenior may choose to tinker with his attacking options, each of Ozan Tufan and Adama Traore in contention to feature in creative roles for Hull.

Jason Lokilo is most likely to drop out of the side with the remainder of the Tigers XI potentially remaining the same.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Begovic; Cannon, Dunne, Clarke-Salter, Paal; Colback, Field, Willock; Dozzell, Dykes, Smyth

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Allsop; Christie, Jones, Greaves, Coyle; Seri, Morton; Twine, Tufan, Philogene; Delap

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Hull City

This is no longer the one-sided equation than many would have anticipated several weeks ago, QPR now building momentum. However, despite their recent slump, we are backing Hull to claim a draw from this fixture, one that could still be perceived to be one gained rather than two lost.

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