QPRvs.Preston

The R's are sitting in 18th place in the Championship table, while the visitors are just one point ahead in 16th position.

Match preview

QPR have proven to be a tough team to beat in recent times, having put together a six-game unbeaten run to move five points clear of the drop zone.

The R's began their undefeated streak with a draw against Stoke City and a win over Cardiff City, before they played out a goalless affair with Watford at Vicarage Road.

Marti Cifuentes's side returned to winning ways with back-to-back home wins over Norwich City and Oxford United, recording shutouts in both those matches to make it four clean sheets in a row.

However, their defence was breached in last Saturday's away clash against Bristol City, although Paul Smyth was able to find an equaliser to cancel out Scott Twine's opener.

After playing out a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate, QPR will now return to the home comforts of Loftus Road, where they will have the chance to record three successive home league victories for the first time since October 2022.

The hosts may be able to take confidence from the fact they completed a league double over Preston last season, including a narrow 1-0 victory in April's home meeting.

Preston are sitting one point above QPR after winning four, drawing 11 and losing six of their 21 matches in the Championship.

The Lilywhites recently ended a 10-game winless run with a 2-0 away victory over Cardiff thanks to a Callum Chambers own goal and a Milutin Osmajic.

PNE looked set to make it back-to-back wins in last Saturday's home game against Leeds United, with Brad Potts netting his second goal of the season to give his side the lead for the majority of the contest, only to see his effort cancelled out by Jack Whatmough's unfortunate own goal in stoppage time.

While the 1-1 draw made it six consecutive games without defeat, Preston will be frustrated with the fact they have drawn five of those six encounters.

However, after claiming their first away win of the season in their most recent road trip against Cardiff, Preston will head on their travels this weekend with hopes of claiming back-to-back away league victories for the first time since February/March.

Although they have struggled for wins on the road, Preston have at least proven tough to beat in recent matches away from Deepdale, having lost just one of their previous six away league games (W1, D4).

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:

D

W

D

W

W

D

Preston North End Championship form:

D

D

D

D

W

D

Team News

QPR forward Zan Celar is currently in the treatment room after sustaining a hamstring injury against Norwich earlier this month.

Midfielder Jack Colback and attacker Karamoko Dembele remain unavailable for selection, as they continue to work on their rehabilitation from knee surgery.

Nicolas Madsen is pushing for a recall after dropping out of the starting lineup for the recent draw with Bristol City.

Meanwhile, Paul Heckingbottom has revealed that Stefan Teitur Thordarson, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Andrew Hughes and Liam Lindsay are all managing small issues.

The Preston manager is seemingly hopeful that the quartet can shake off their respective knocks to feature in the matchday squad, while Sam Greenwood is set to return to the lineup after serving a one-match ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Preston's top scorer Emil Riis could return to the starting XI, with the striker looking to add to the five goals he has scored this season.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Nardi; Dunne, Cook, Morrison, Ashby; Varane, Field; Smyth, Madsen, Saito; Kolli

Preston North End possible starting lineup:

Woodman; Storey, Whatmough, Lindsay; Potts, McCann, Whiteman, Kesler-Hayden; Frokjaer-Jensen, Greenwood; Riis

We say: Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Preston North End

Written by

Ben Sully

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