MX23RW : Friday, May 10 05:20:32| >> :600:602023:602023:
[monks data]
QPR logo
Championship
Feb 1, 2014 at 12.15pm UK
 
Burnley logo

3-3

Doyle (7'), Dunne (34'), Maiga (79')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Ings (25'), Vokes (54', 62')

Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Burnley

Sports Mole previews Saturday's crucial Championship clash between two automatic promotion chasing sides as QPR host Burnley at Loftus Road.

Two of the Championship's top three teams go head to head in a vital clash on Saturday as second-placed Queens Park Rangers host third-placed Burnley at Loftus Road.

QPR are currently winning the race to join leaders Leicester City in the automatic promotion spots at the end of the season, overtaking Burnley a fortnight ago before extending their lead with a 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday.

The gap between the two sides is now three points, and that would be doubled if QPR manage a fourth consecutive home win in Saturday's early kickoff.

Harry Redknapp's side have a 100% record in the league in 2014, with Premier League high flyers Everton the only side to beat them in all competitions.

No Championship side have picked up more points in front of their own fans than QPR this season, with their only home league defeat coming at the hands of Leicester over the festive period.

They also have the best defensive record both at home and overall, conceding just six times at Loftus Road in 14 league games.

However, their goals for tally is significantly lower than those around them in the table, with 33 goals from their 27 games marking the worst record in the top seven.

To further exacerbate their scoring problems, Charlie Austin is a doubt after being forced off during the win over Bolton on Tuesday, although Redknapp is hopeful of bringing in a couple of new faces before Friday's transfer deadline.

Both Danny Simpson and Joey Barton are doubtful for the match through injury, while Alejandro Faurlin and Julio Cesar are definitely out.

Burnley are in danger of being cut adrift from the top two if they lose this match having been held to draws by Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton & Hove Albion in their last two outings.

Failure to win again on Saturday could see them drop down to fourth depending on Derby County's result against Birmingham City, but their playoff spot for this season looks all but guaranteed already.

That should allow Sean Dyche's men to go all out for this game and, while their last two matches have ended in disappointing results, he will be reminding his side that they have only lost once in their last 10 league outings.

The Clarets have the third-best away record in the Championship this season, but their 2-1 victory over Yeovil Town earlier this month was the first time that they had picked up maximum points on their travels since October.

Victory would see the visitors move back into the top two due to their superior goal difference, but they may have to do it without Ben Mee and Ross Wallace, who are both doubts for the game.

Recent form

QPR: DWLWWW

Burnley: DWLWDD

Possible starting lineups

QPR: Green; Traore, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto; Henry, Carroll; Phillips, O'Neil, Kranjcar; Austin

Burnley: Heaton; Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Lafferty; Jones, Marney; Arfield, Ings, Kightly; Vokes

Sports Mole says: 2-1


ID:133974: cacheID:133974:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5698:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
QPR manager Harry Redknapp on the touchline during his team's match against Burnley on October 26, 2013
Read Next:
Preview: QPR vs. Huddersfield
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!