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

Bournemouth will be aiming to snap their six-game winless run and move top of the EFL Championship table when they visit the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium to face Queens Park Rangers on Monday.

The hosts, on the other hand, saw their run of six games without defeat come to an end last time out and will seek to immediately return to winning ways and strengthen their position in the playoff places.

Match preview

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After finishing ninth in the league last campaign, Queens Park Rangers will be delighted by their performance in the first half of the season as they are currently fifth in the EFL Championship standings, level on 35 points with Stoke City in the final playoff spot, albeit with two games in hand.

While they have struggled to get going defensively, Mark Warburton will feel impressed by his side's display at the opposite end of the pitch, which has been a major factor in their success so far, as they boast the division's best attacking record with 33 goals scored.

However, Queens Park Rangers' blistering run took a slight halt three Sundays ago when they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Stoke City on home turf.

Despite seeing over 65% of the ball possession, the Hoops were guilty of a lack of sting in the final third as Tyrese Campbell and Mario Vrancic scored against the run of play to hand the visitors all three points.

Prior to that, Queens Park Rangers were on a three-game winning streak and were unbeaten in six consecutive outings, claiming four wins and two draws since losing on penalties against Sunderland in the EFL Cup on November 26.

While they will be looking to immediately return to winning ways and strengthen their position in the playoff places, Monday's game sees QPR go up against an opposing side who are unbeaten in all but one of the last five meetings between the teams, claiming three wins and one draw in that time.

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Bournemouth continue to struggle for form in the EFL Championship as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of ninth-place Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium last time out.

In a cagey affair, Celtic loanee Andraz Sporar kept his cool under pressure as he converted his 53rd-minute penalty with great aplomb to hand the hosts their first win in five games against Bournemouth.

Scott Parker's men have now failed to taste victory in any of their last six games, picking up three draws and losing three since a 4-0 win over Swansea City when the sides met at the Vitality Stadium on November 6.

This slump in form has been in no small part owing to their recent defensive frailties as they have conceded 10 goals and failed to keep a clean sheet since the win over the Swans.

For all their recent struggles, Bournemouth are currently second on the log after claiming 43 points from 23 games, and could move into first place with a win on Monday as they sit two points behind league leaders Fulham.

Team News

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While there has been positive news regarding Lyndon Dykes's progress in his recovery from an ankle problem, the 26-year-old, who has six goals and two assists to his name this season, remains unfit to feature for QPR.

The Scotland international is joined on the club's injury table by the defensive duo of Jordy de Wijs and Sam McCallum, who continue their spells on the sidelines through injuries.

After an uninspiring performance against Stoke City last time out, where he failed to draw his side level after squandering his 63rd-minute penalty, Charlie Austin could return to the bench, with Andre Gray pushing for a starting role.

With 18 goal involvements between them, Ilias Chair and Christopher Willock have been in fine form for the Hoops this season, and we expect the duo to handle business in attack once again.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth will have to cope with the absence of English defender Adam Smith, who is set to sit out his third straight game after sustaining an injury against Fulham on December 3.

Having now failed to score in two consecutive games, Parker could shake things up at the attacking end of the pitch, with Emiliano Marcondes potentially returning to the XI.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Dickie, Dunne, Barbet; Kakay, Dozzell, Johansen, Field; Chair, Willock; Gray

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Stacey, Cahill, Kelly, Brady; L Cook, Kilkenny; Marcondes, Christie, Anthony; Solanke

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Bournemouth

Despite the defeat last time out, Queens Park Rangers head into Monday's game in fine form and will be looking to quickly bounce back to winning ways. However, Bournemouth boast the division's best record on the road this season with six wins and four draws from 12 games. We anticipate a thrilling contest with the honours being shared at the sound of the full-time whistle.

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