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

Queens Park Rangers will host Coventry City for the first time since January 2011 when they lock horns in the Championship on Good Friday.

The Hoops are unbeaten in their previous three home matches against the Sky Blues, while the visitors head to Loftus Road after failing to win any of their last six away games.

Match preview

© Reuters

Queens Park Rangers reached the 50-point milestone for the fifth successive Championship season as they claimed a point away at playoff hopefuls Reading before the international break.

Lyndon Dykes's close-range effort on the stroke of half time was cancelled out by Yakou Meite's strike in the 57th minute, forcing both sides to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Madejski Stadium.

Mark Warburton's team have picked up 10 points from the last 15 available but despite this good run of form, the Hoops are 12 points behind the top six and a playoff push seems unlikely with just nine games left to play.

Only league leaders Norwich City and Watford (12) have won more Championship matches in 2021 than QPR (9).

The Hoops, who have won just two of their last nine league meetings against Coventry, could move into the top 10 with a victory on Friday.

© Reuters

Coventry remain in a battle to avoid relegation as they played out a goalless draw at home to basement club Wycombe Wanderers before the international break.

The Sky Blues are now just four points above the bottom three and 18th-placed Rotherham United have three games in hand on them, but manager Mark Robins insists that it is "not all doom and gloom".

Recent home victories against Brentford and Derby County have given Coventry hope of survival, but their away form must improve if they are to avoid an immediate return to League One.

Robins's side have the third worst away record in the division, after winning only two of their 18 matches on the road and accumulating just 11 points from a possible 54 available.

Five of their final nine fixtures this season, including Friday's encounter with QPR, are away from home, but four of their opponents are currently sitting in the bottom half of the table. With this schedule on the horizon, the Sky Blues may fancy their chances of claiming precious points in the weeks to come.

Victory for Coventry, who beat QPR 3-2 back in September, would see them record their first league double over the Hoops since the 2005-06 season under former boss Micky Adams.

Team News

© Reuters

QPR duo Dominic Ball and Jordy De Wijs were both withdrawn with respective hip and calf problems in the draw at Reading and are both doubtful for Friday's match.

Striker Dykes ended a 21-game goal drought when he found the net against the Royals, and the Scotsman will be hoping to keep his place in the starting lineup alongside Charlie Austin, who scored in both of his previous two matches against Coventry when playing for Burnley.

Robins has confirmed that striker Matt Godden could be in contention to start for the Sky Blues after recovering from a serious foot injury that ruled him out for two months.

Defender Kyle McFadzean is back from suspension and is expected to return to the first XI at the expense of Michael Rose.

Versatile midfielder Ben Sheaf may also be brought back into the starting lineup as a replacement for either Liam Kelly or Matty James.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Dickie, Cameron, Barbet; Kane, Johansen, Field, Wallace; Chair; Dykes, Austin

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Wilson; Ostigard, McFadzean, Hyam; Dabo, Hamer, Sheaf, Kelly, McCallum; O'Hare; Biamou

We say: Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Coventry City

After beating QPR earlier this season, Coventry can take confidence into their encounter at Loftus Road but will be wary of their recent run of form.

Warburton's last seven home victories with the Hoops have all been by a one-goal margin, and we can see the hosts claiming another narrow victory on Friday.