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

At a time when the Hoops occupy 22nd position in the standings, Norwich sit in ninth place after a recent upturn in fortunes.

Match preview

On the back of a recent eight-game winless streak, Marti Cifuentes has realised the difficulty of the task in keeping QPR in the second tier of English football.

However, the West Londoners have impressively responded by collecting seven points from matches against Millwall, Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers.

Each of the results in question have kept their opponents within close proximity of the bottom three, QPR having desperately needed to drag more teams into the scrap.

The 2-1 success last time out has kept QPR to within five points of 18th-placed Blackburn, creating a window of opportunity to catapult themselves back into the mix with a win on Saturday.

That said, for just the second time this campaign, QPR will be bidding to go four matches without defeat, while they have already been on the receiving end of a loss to Norwich earlier in the season.

David Wagner's side prevailed 1-0 during the first round of the EFL Cup, and they also defeated QPR by the same scoreline in the reverse league fixture in November.

Wagner has faced a battle to retain his job at the Canaries but just two defeats in eight outings - away at Leeds United and Liverpool respectively - have helped establish some stability.

Furthermore, Norwich have accumulated 10 points from five outings in the Championship to remain very much in the playoff mix, sitting just one point adrift of sixth-placed Hull City.

Last time out, the East Anglian outfit impressively came from behind to post a 2-1 triumph over promotion rivals Coventry City, yet they head into this contest having lost three of their most recent four away games in the league.

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:

D

L

L

W

D

W

Queens Park Rangers form (all competitions):

L

L

L

W

D

W

Norwich City Championship form:

L

D

W

W

L

W

Norwich City form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

L

W

Team News

Recent arrivals Isaac Hayden and Joe Hodge are both pushing for starting opportunities in the QPR midfield.

With Sam Field serving a suspension, Cifuentes could keep changes down to a minimum, with Sinclair Armstrong retaining his spot down the middle of the attack.

Having made an impact from the substitutes' bench against Coventry, Ashley Barnes will hope to be restored to the Norwich XI.

Barring any fitness issues, the remainder of the side could stay the same, with Sydney van Hooijdonk staying among the replacements.

Danny Batth is still not available for selection due to injury.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Begovic; Cannon, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal; Colback, Hodge; Willock, Dykes, Chair; Armstrong

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Gibson, Giannoulis; Sara, McLean; Fassnacht, Barnes, Sainz; Sargent

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Norwich City

Despite the difference in league positions, this is a contest between two in-form teams and one which we expect to be competitive. Both sides are eager for maximum points for contrasting reasons, yet we feel that a draw will be played out at Loftus Road.

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