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

The Potters scored a first win under the management of Alex Neil on Tuesday, while their hosts triumphed over Millwall in midweek.

Match preview

Following the summer departure of Mark Warburton, Queens Park Rangers began life under Michael Beale relatively slowly, as they sat on just five points from five Championship outings.

Since then, the Hoops appear to have found some form, having now won three of their last four league games, firstly beating promotion-hopefuls Watford 3-2 away from home as Albert Adomah netted the decisive goal in the 70th minute after leads through Ilias Chair and Chris Willock were cancelled out.

They then hosted Hull City and made it back-to-back wins with Chair and Willock again on the scoresheet either side of an Ethan Laird goal but would fall short in the following trip to Swansea City as Joel Piroe's first-half goal made the only difference.

Following the postponement of all Championship fixtures last weekend, the Hoops would return to action with a trip to Millwall on Wednesday, and, after a goalless first half, they eventually went ahead through Willock before Stefan Johansen wrapped up a 2-0 win with a second in the 71st minute.

Now sitting ninth after that impressive away triumph, with just a one-point gap up to third place, Beale's men will look to make it four wins in a span of five games and break into the top six on Saturday.

They welcome a Stoke City side who will also look to build on a victory in midweek, their first under the management of Alex Neil at the third time of asking.

After a defeat to Sunderland left them on just four points from five outings, the Potters hierarchy opted to dismiss Michael O'Neill and swoop for Neil, but he had to wait for a first game in charge, instead watching from the stands as Lewis Baker fired them to a 1-0 win away at Blackburn Rovers.

Following the confirmation of his appointment, the Scotsman would first take charge at home to Swansea City, and they would only take a 1-1 draw thanks to Tyrese Campbell's injury-time equaliser, before falling short away at Reading as Lucas Joao hit a goal in each half to overpower Ben Wilmot's 40th-minute leveller.

With last weekend's postponements extending Neil's wait for a first victory, they returned to action in search of a confidence-boosting win away at Hull City and went into half time 2-0 up thanks to goals from Baker and Wilmot, before the former capped off a dominant display with his second and the Potters' third 26 minutes from time.

Now on the back of a comprehensive win and a clean sheet, Stoke will look to kick on with a second straight triumph at Loftus Road on Saturday with the chance to quickly move into the top half.

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:

Stoke City Championship form:

Team News

After their impressive display and result at Millwall, Queens Park Rangers could come into Saturday's game unchanged, with centre-backs Jake Clarke-Salter and Robert Dickie likely remaining the only enforced absentees through injury.

In their absence, Jimmy Dunne and Leon Balogun will continue their partnership on the back of a clean sheet, with Sam Field set to anchor the midfield alongside Stefan Johansen and Aston Villa loanee Tim Iroegbunam.

Tyler Roberts and Lyndon Dykes will fight to lead the line in a 4-3-3 setup, while wingers Ilias Chair and Chris Willock are arguably the main danger men with the former already contributing three goals and five assists in nine Championship games and the latter hitting the net five times in just six league appearances.

Alex Neil could also look to deploy an unchanged starting XI after a dominant midweek showing, with Harry Souttar, Harry Clarke, Josh Laurent, Dujon Sterling and Sam Clucas all out of contention while Tyrese Campbell is a doubt after missing the trip to Hull.

Josef Bursik was preferred over Jack Bonham between the sticks last time out and will keep his place at the weekend, while the back three of Morgan Fox, Aden Flint and Ben Wilmot is bound to remain untouched with attacker Jacob Brown operating as somewhat of a wing-back.

Liam Delap and Dwight Gayle will hope to keep their places in attack with Nick Powell pushing to return to the starting XI, while their primary goal threat is arguably Lewis Baker, who has already found the net four times this season from midfield after hitting eight goals in 21 Championship appearances last term.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Dieng; Laird, Dunne, Balogun, Paal; Johansen, Field, Iroegbunam; Chair, Roberts, Willock

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Bursik; Fox, Flint, Wilmot; Brown, Smallbone, Baker, Thompson, Tymon; Delap, Gayle

We say: Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Stoke City

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