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

Gareth Ainsworth will be wanting to move Queens Park Rangers away from any potential relegation battle when he takes charge of his first game against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

While the home side sit in 18th spot in the Championship table, Rovers have recently moved back up to fourth courtesy of successive victories.

Match preview

Given the saga involving Michael Beale, it was anticipated that QPR would provide Neil Critchley with time to bring some calm to life at Loftus Road.

Instead, just one win in 12 matches led to the powers-that-be replacing Critchley with Ainsworth, who has ended his legendary stint at Wycombe Wanderers to return to a former club.

Faced with an 11-game winless streak, Ainsworth knows that he needs to hit the ground running in a bid to keep QPR out of a relegation battle.

Although the West London outfit still eight points clear of the bottom three, each of the trio of teams are on an upward trajectory under new managers.

QPR need Ainsworth to do the same, yet his first task comes against opponents who have put together a six-match unbeaten run in the Championship.

After all of the focus on no draws being posted in 27 league matches, Blackburn proceeded to register four stalemates in succession, falling off the pace in the process.

However, successive 1-0 victories over Swansea City and Blackpool have catapulted Rovers back into fourth spot, five points adrift of Middlesbrough in third.

Jon Dahl Tomasson will be far more focused on the teams below Blackburn at this stage, the North West outfit still just three points clear of ninth position.

Such a scenario keeps the pressure on Blackburn, who have only recorded two wins away from home since the start of November, both of which came against Norwich City.

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:

Blackburn Rovers form (all competitions):

Team News

Ainsworth's first QPR XI is somewhat of an unknown but he may be prepared to stick with the players who pushed in-form Middlesbrough last weekend.

Stefan Johansen may be recalled to add some experience to midfield, while Albert Adomah could replace either Jamal Lowe or Chris Martin if he switches to a central trio in the centre of the pitch.

Daniel Ayala is expected to miss out for Blackburn due to a hamstring injury, with Hayden Carter likely to feature at centre-back.

Should Harry Pickering be declared fit, the left-back may have to make do with a spot among the replacements, but Ben Brereton Diaz remains a doubt with a hamstring issue.

Bradley Dack is another hamstring victim and will sit on the sidelines for a number of weeks.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Dieng; Kakay, Dunne, Dickie, Paal; Field, Dozzell, Iroegbunam, Chair; Lowe, Martin

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:

Pears; Rankin-Costello, Carter, Hyam, Brittain; Travis, Buckley; Thomas, Szmodics, Dolan; Gallagher

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

While QPR will surely give a better account of themselves under Ainsworth, they are facing opponents who have regained their confidence. Taking everything into consideration, we can see a competitive draw being played out at Loftus Road.

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