Leeds United will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday when they travel to Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.
The Whites relinquished first spot in the table to West Bromwich Albion courtesy of the defeat, while QPR occupy 15th spot in the division with 35 points to show from their 27 matches this season.
Match preview
© Reuters
Since dropping out of the Premier League at the end of the 2014-15 campaign, QPR have not looked anywhere close to being capable of challenging for a return to the top flight.
Indeed, the R's have posted finishes of 12th, 18th, 16th and 19th in their last four seasons in the second tier, while they occupy 15th spot in the table with 35 points from their 27 matches this term.
That said, the capital outfit are only five points off the top half of the table and just seven off the playoffs, suggesting that a strong second half of the campaign could leave them in the argument.
Mark Warburton's side have struggled with consistency this season, though, shown by the fact that they followed a thumping 6-1 home victory over Cardiff City on New Year's Day with a 3-1 loss at Brentford.
The R's have been victorious in two of their last three games with Leeds in all competitions, though, including a 1-0 win in the corresponding clash during the 2018-19 Championship campaign.
© Reuters
Leeds sit in a brilliant position at this stage of the season having collected 52 points from their 27 matches, leaving them second in the table, one point off leaders West Brom.
Marcelo Bielsa's side have only won one of their last six Championship matches, though, and will enter the clash at Loftus Road off the back of a 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
Suddenly what looked to be a healthy gap to third spot has been cut to six points by an impressive Brentford, while the likes of Fulham and Nottingham Forest are also sensing a possible slide.
The Leeds supporters will be wary after what happened last season, but it is difficult to be too critical of the Whites considering their spot in the table after 27 matches of the 2019-20 campaign.
Anything other than three points this weekend would lead to more nervousness with the fans, though, and consequently there is no downplaying the importance of the clash at Loftus Road.
QPR Championship form: LDLLWL
QPR form (all competitions): DLLWWL
Leeds Championship form: DLDWDL
Leeds form (all competitions): LDWDLL
Team News
© Reuters
Yoann Barbet remains unavailable for QPR but Warburton otherwise has a healthy squad and is expected to stick with the bulk of the side that started against Brentford.
Perhaps the main talking point comes in attack where Jordan Hugill is pushing for a start, although Nahki Wells's impressive recent form assures him of a spot in the XI.
There will also be another start for Eberechi Eze, who is believed to be on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs as he continues to impress in the second tier.
Jack Clarke could also be involved against his former club having joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
As for Leeds, Pablo Hernandez made his comeback from injury against Sheffield Wednesday and is pushing to be involved from the start, although Jamie Shackleton and Adam Forshaw are both doubts.
Patrick Bamford will again lead the line for the promotion hopefuls with Tyler Roberts not yet ready to return.
Stuart Dallas should also shake off the knock he picked up last weekend to make the starting XI, although Barry Douglas has been ruled out of contention by Bielsa, which could see Ezgjan Alioski feature.
QPR possible starting lineup:
Lumley; Kane, Hall, Cameron, Manning; Amos, Ball; Osayi-Samuel, Chair, Eze; Wells
Leeds possible starting lineup:
Casilla; Ayling, White, Cooper, Alioski; Phillips; Hernandez, Dallas, Klich, Harrison; Bamford
We say: QPR 1-2 Leeds
QPR have scored 11 times in their last two home games against Cardiff and Swansea, but Leeds are due a win in the Championship following a tricky spell and we expect it to arrive on Saturday afternoon.
body check tags ::
