Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Ipswich Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Ipswich Town travel to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday afternoon looking to retain top spot in the Championship standings.

While the Tractor Boys occupy first position on goal difference, QPR are down in 16th place, which will be deemed acceptable given their start to the campaign.

Match preview

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Having largely kept incomings to a minimum during the off-season, it was unclear whether Ipswich would benefit from that choice or risk stagnating.

Kieran McKenna has received his answer in excellent wins over Sunderland and Stoke City, opponents who are each fancied to push for promotion in 2023-24.

As much as the 2-1 triumph at the Stadium of Light was impressive, overcoming Stoke 2-0 at Portman Road caught the eye with the Potters having won their previous two games in all competitions.

Such was Ipswich's dominance that Stoke boss Alex Neil made a tactical change before half time, yet it mattered little as last season's League One runners-up came through with maximum points.

McKenna now has the task of trying to maintain performance levels and expectation in equal measure ahead of a game where they will be regarded as clear favourites.

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QPR have already played host to one East Anglian side this week, going down to Norwich City by a 1-0 scoreline in the EFL Cup.

Gareth Ainsworth opted to ring the changes for that fixture, resting the majority of players who had previously starred in a 2-1 success at Cardiff City.

That response was imperative after the 4-0 drubbing at Watford, and Ainsworth will feel that his team are on an upward trajectory ahead of their first league game at Loftus Road this campaign.

These two teams are squaring off for the first time since Boxing Day in 2018 when QPR cruised to a 3-0 victory in West London.

Team News

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Having made a number of alterations for the Norwich game in midweek, Ainsworth is expected to revert to much of the team that started the win at Cardiff.

Only Sam Field has completed the 90 minutes on both occasions and he is expected to move back to midfield having dropped into a back three on Wednesday.

However, Lyndon Dykes will likely miss out after picking up an injury during the EFL Cup tie, with Taylor Richards potentially taking his spot.

Despite Kayden Jackson scoring as a substitute last time out, McKenna may look to name the same Ipswich XI from the win over Stoke.

Goalkeeper Christian Walton remains sidelined with a foot injury, leaving Vaclav Hladky to continue to deputise between the sticks.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Begovic; Kakay, Cook, Fox, Paal; Dozzell, Field; Smyth, Richards, Chair; Armstrong

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Hladky; Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Luongo; Burns, Chaplin, Broadhead; Hirst

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-3 Ipswich Town

QPR shown at the end of last season that they were capable of upsetting teams that sit at the top of the table. Nevertheless, it feels like a different story this time around, and we expect Ipswich to continue on their merry way during the early stages of 2023-24.

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