Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

The Hoops have climbed to the summit thanks to a strong run of form since the recent international break, while the visitors now sit 17th following back-to-back league defeats.

Match preview

Queens Park Rangers enjoyed a relatively promising start to the Championship season under the new management of Michael Beale, sitting on 15 points from 10 league games prior to the international break.

They have only improved since the return to action at the beginning of October, quickly climbing to the top of the table with four victories from the last five outings, starting with consecutive away triumphs over Bristol City and Sheffield United before beating Reading 2-1 on home turf thanks to a brace from Lyndon Dykes.

They were unable to make it four on the bounce, eventually losing in the following encounter away at Luton Town last weekend, but Beale's men had the chance to return to winning ways and maintain their place at the top of the pile on Wednesday as they hosted Cardiff City.

Dykes hit another brace to put them two goals ahead in the first half of that contest, and Kenneth Paal wrapped up an impressive 3-0 victory with a 74th-minute goal at Loftus Road, seeing the London outfit stay ahead of second-placed Blackburn Rovers on goal difference.

Having taken advantage of struggles from Sheffield United and Norwich City to climb to the summit, the Hoops will hope to continue leading the pack with a second straight win and what would be their ninth league triumph of the season on Saturday.

They welcome a Wigan Athletic side who have not fared as well since the break at the end of September, having put 16 points on the board in the 10 games beforehand following their promotion from League One.

Since their return to action, Leam Richardson's side have only managed to add three more points to their tally, courtesy of a 1-0 victory over high-flyers Blackburn Rovers after consecutive defeats at the hands of Hull City and Cardiff City.

The Latics have been unable to build another positive run of form on the back of that win, though, firstly losing away at Sunderland last weekend before being well beaten at home to Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

In their bid to put their dip in form behind them, Richardson's men went ahead through Will Keane, but Isaiah Jones levelled the scoring on the stroke of half time and Duncan Watmore, Hayden Hackney and Chuba Akpom got on the scoresheet in the second half to seal a resounding 4-1 away win.

Now sitting 17th in England's second tier with a five-point cushion over the relegation zone, the Latics will be vying to end their slide at the weekend but face an unenviable test away at the league leaders.

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:

D

W

W

W

L

W

Wigan Athletic Championship form:

W

L

L

W

L

L

Team News

Queens Park Rangers are set to deploy an unchanged starting XI on Saturday after Wednesday's resounding home victory, with key attacker Chris Willock remaining sidelined by an injury.

Lyndon Dykes will continue to lead the line, having netted four goals in their last three games after a slow start to the season, while Ilias Chair is another danger man in attack with three goals and six assists in the Championship so far this term.

Leon Balogun was fit to play alongside Jake Clarke-Salter after an injury concern, and they should again partner up at the heart of the back four with Rob Dickie having to settle for a place on the bench and Stefan Johansen and Sam Field operating at the base of midfield.

Wigan Athletic winger Callum Lang will likely be unavailable for selection on Saturday after he was forced off late in the defeat to Middlesbrough, less than 20 minutes after coming off the bench.

Graeme Shinnie will be fighting to take back his place in midfield alongside Max Power after being reduced to a substitute appearance last time out, while Will Keane remains their star man going forward after hitting his sixth goal of the season in the Middlesbrough contest.

He will operate just behind a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 setup, with Charlie Wyke, Josh Magennis and Nathan Broadhead all vying to lead the line, while Thelo Aasgaard and James McClean are set to again play on the wings.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Dieng; Laird, Clarke-Salter, Balogun, Paal; Johansen, Field; Iroegbunam, Chair, Armstrong; Dykes

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Amos; Darikwa, Tilt, Whatmough, Bennett; Power, Shinnie; Aasgaard, Keane, McClean; Broadhead

We say: Queens Park Rangers 3-1 Wigan Athletic

Given the contrasting form of the two sides we can only envisage a relatively dominant home victory at Loftus Road on Saturday.

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