Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Leeds United - prediction, team news, lineups

Leeds United square off against Queens Park Rangers on Friday evening with the opportunity to move four points clear in the Championship automatic promotion race.

At a time when the visitors to Loftus Road are sitting in second position in the standings, QPR are a win away from guaranteeing their second-tier survival for another 12 months.

Match preview

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Having failed to win in three matches, Leeds had reached a point where they could ill-afford anything less than a win over Middlesbrough on Monday night.

Daniel Farke's side had only scored once in fixtures against Coventry City, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers, yet they netted four times in 61 minutes at the Riverside Stadium.

Middlesbrough would ultimately score three times themselves, the first time since September Leeds have conceded that many times in a league fixture.

Nevertheless, posting three points was all that mattered as the Yorkshire giants moved a point ahead of third-placed Ipswich Town, albeit having played a game more.

Leeds will now look to conclude their away schedule by posting a 12th win in 23 outings, while their current away defensive record is the joint-second best in the division.

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QPR had also gone three matches without success before their home fixture against Preston North End on Saturday evening, with the Hoops sitting just one point above the drop zone at the time.

However, that margin now stands at four points after they registered a 1-0 win in West London, with Lyndon Dykes's first-half goal proving to be the difference.

With Huddersfield Town playing Birmingham City on Saturday, the chances are QPR only require one more point to secure their place in the second tier for another season.

Marti Cifuentes will want to end the season in style, though, with QPR having impressively won eight of their last 17 Championship fixtures, the sixth-best return in the division during that time.

Team News

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If Patrick Bamford can overcome a bruised knee sustained against Middlesbrough, Farke is expected to select the same Leeds XI.

However, Daniel James has been ruled out having suffered "a costal cartilage injury and an oblique abdominal muscle tear". It remains unclear how long James will be sidelined.

Pascal Struijk also remains out through injury, but the rest of the squad is currently fit and available for selection.

QPR boss Cifuentes could plausibly match Farke in selecting an unchanged starting lineup for this contest.

While Isaac Hayden and Paul Smyth are alternatives in midfield and the final third respectively, Lucas Andersen should retain his place.

Taylor Richards and Michael Frey will remain on the sidelines.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup: Begovic; Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal; Field, Colback; Willock, Andersen, Chair; Dykes

Leeds United possible starting lineup: Meslier; Byram, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Gruev; Gnonto, Rutter, Gray, Summerville; Bamford

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-3 Leeds United

Although the shorter recovery time could have a detrimental effect on Leeds, the manner of their win at Boro may have turned the tide in their favour. QPR are likely to push Leeds for large spells of this contest, yet we are backing the visitors to run out victors at Loftus Road.

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