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

Blackburn Rovers play host to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday afternoon looking to extend their unbeaten record in the Championship to seven matches.

At a time when the home side sit in fifth position in the standings, the visitors to Ewood Park are down in 14th spot despite their own five-match undefeated streak.

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Match preview

Although Blackburn ended last season on a high, their supporters would not necessarily have expected such a promising start to this campaign.

Even with Sammie Szmodics having been sold to Ipswich Town, John Eustace's side have still managed to accumulate 12 points from their opening six matches.

Rovers have followed a win-draw pattern since the opening game, scoring in every fixture up until last weekend's goalless draw at Preston North End.

That represented Blackburn's third successive draw on their travels, with each of their three victories being recorded at Ewood Park.

Nine goals have been scored in triumphs over Derby County, Oxford United and Bristol City, while back-to-back clean sheets have been kept in their last two fixtures.

As for QPR, they make the trip to the North West having put together a five-match streak without suffering defeat, with their only reverse in the league this season coming at home to leaders West Bromwich Albion.

Marti Cifuentes will be disappointed with the four draws that have been posted in five games, yet it has extended a run of just one loss in nine matches when taking the back end of last season into consideration.

Since posting a 2-1 win at Luton Town before the international break, the Hoops have recorded 1-1 draws with Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall respectively.

The main downside to their form is that they are yet to keep a shutout in the second tier this season.

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Team News

Eustace will be forced into at least one Blackburn change after left-back Owen Beck was sent off against Preston.

Harry Pickering will come into the side, while Eustace will also consider recalling the likes of Andreas Weimann and Makhtar Gueye.

Todd Cantwell and Amario Cozier-Duberry are in contention for their first starts since arriving at Ewood Park during the final hours of the transfer window.

If Cifuentes opts to tinker with his QPR XI, Paul Smyth could be selected on the flank instead of Koki Saito.

The rest of the team could stay the same with Morgan Fox and Ilias Chair remaining on the sidelines through injury.

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup: Pears; Carter, Batth, Hyam, Pickering; Tronstad, Travis; Hedges, Dolan, Cantwell; Gueye

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup: Nardi; Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal; Madsen, Field; Dembele, Andersen, Smyth; Frey

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We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Queens Park Rangers

With QPR proving difficult to beat of late, Blackburn could have their work cut out in this fixture. Nevertheless, we are backing Eustace's side to come through with the three points, potentially with a goal in each half.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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