West London plays host to a Championship derby this Friday night as Queens Park Rangers make the short four-mile trip to Brentford.
The hosts are in fine form under interim boss Lee Carsley and can leapfrog their opposition with another win.
Brentford
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Carsley continues to insist that he does not want the Bees job past the end of the season because he would prefer to work with the academy, but he might warm to the head coach's job more if his side keeps winning.
It is now three in a row for the Bees - the longest winning run in the league - and they are up into the top half, seven points off the playoffs, after a rocky start to the campaign.
After scoring two goals in the back-to-back wins over Rotherham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month, Carsley's men went one better in another London affair on Saturday, putting three unanswered goals past Charlton Athletic.
The Addicks were all over Brentford in the early stages at The Valley, but once John Swift headed home the opener against the run of play, the home side, who were on a nine-match winless run and had manager Guy Luzon sacked afterwards, lost their confidence and threatened rarely.
Alan Judge sent over the cross for Swift and he then added the second with a pinpoint curling finish before laying on the third for Lasse Vibe. The midfielder, a former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international who is yet to make his senior debut for his country, has directly contributed to 10 of Brentford's goals this season and is reportedly attracting interest from Premier League clubs.
Chelsea loanee Swift has also impressed of late and after netting his first Bees goal at the weekend he has extended his loan until the New Year.
Recent form: LLLWWW
QPR
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Chris Ramsey's Rangers come into the match having kept two straight clean sheets in home matches against Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons.
After being held by the Owls, QPR earned their first win in three by scoring three times in the final 20 minutes to see off the Dons.
The R's have now netted 11 goals in the final half-hour of Championship matches this season, more than anyone else in the division.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who is leading the line with Charlie Austin injured at the moment, was the man to break the deadlock last weekend and he has scored five goals in six starts this season.
Twelve of Rangers' 19 points have come at home this season and they are without a win in three away matches, losing the last two at Fulham and Birmingham City.
As well as scoring late goals, QPR have won a league-high seven points, the same as Nottingham Forest and Friday's opponents Brentford, from losing positions this season.
Recent form: DLWLDW
Team News
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Austin scored seven goals in QPR's first nine league matches, but has been absent for the last four with a hamstring problem.
Ramsey said today that the striker could play a part on Friday, but is likely to start on the bench as a substitute, with Emmanuel-Thomas continuing to lead the line.
Carsley, meanwhile, named an unchanged XI at Charlton and should go with the same lineup once more here given their strong recent form.
Vibe scored after being introduced at The Valley and is the most likely to come in for Marco Djuricin if Carsley does want to have a tinker up front.
Brentford possible starting lineup:
Button; Yennaris, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell; McCormack, Diagouraga, Woods; Swift, Judge; Djuricin
QPR possible starting lineup:
Green; Onuoha, Hill, Hall, Konchesky; Toszer, Henry, Luongo; Phillips, Chery; Emmanuel-Thomas
Head To Head
This is the first meeting since the 2003-04 season, when both clubs were in League One.
Brentford are winless in their last seven league games against QPR, losing three (D4).
QPR's last league victory at Griffin Park came back in April 2003, when a 90th-minute strike from Marc Bircham secured a 2-1 win.
We say: Brentford 2-2 QPR
QPR should provide red-hot Brentford with a stern test. Goals are likely at Griffin Park with both sides coming into the match after 3-0 wins and we see the spoils being shared.
Pascal Lemesre
