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QPR logo
Championship
Nov 28, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Leeds logo

1-0

Austin (58')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Leeds United

Sports Mole previews the Championship clash between Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United at Loftus Road.

Two clubs who have endured turbulent starts to the season will meet at Lofus Road on Saturday afternoon as Queens Park Rangers take on Leeds United.

They are both just a few points above the relegation zone and have each made managerial changes in recent weeks to try to improve their flagging fortunes


QPR

QPR Interim Head Coach Neil Warnock looks on before kick off during the Sky Bet Championship match between Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End at Loftus Road on November 7, 2015© Getty Images

It has been a miserable November for QPR, who are yet to win a match and are also on the lookout for a new manager after sacking Chris Ramsey.

He had been only been given the permanent job as head coach of the Hoops in May, but a defeat to Derby County proved the last straw, with Neil Warnock being brought in on a temporary basis.

His return to the QPR dugout for the first time in more than three years ended in relatively unforgettable circumstances, as the Londoners played out a goalless draw with Preston North End at Loftus Road.

Warnock was then forced to miss last Friday's visit to Middlesbrough due to personal reasons, with his assistant Kevin Blackwell overseeing a 1-0 defeat to the Championship high-flyers.

The result was slightly harsh on the R's, as they looked set to claim a valuable point until Leroy Fer handled Daniel Ayala's goalbound effort in stoppage time, with Grant Leadbitter slotting home the resulting penalty.

Recent form: WLLDL


Leeds

Steve Evans manager of Leeds United reacts during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers on October 29, 2015© Getty Images

QPR are not the only team who have changed their manager this season, as Steve Evans was hired to take over as the head coach of Leeds following Uwe Rosler's dismissal.

The former Rotherham boss is on a rolling contract with the club until June, and has become their sixth manager since Massimo Cellino took over as chairman last April.

His reign as manager started with successive draws away to Fulham and Bolton Wanderers, before his first match at Elland Road ended in a 2-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers, with Craig Conway and Jordan Rhodes doing the damage in the opening six minutes.

It seemed as if the club had turned a corner with victories in their next two games against Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town, but their winning run was quickly brought to an end as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Rotherham United last weekend.

That result has left them in 16th place in the Championship, just one spot behind QPR, but they are only four points above the drop as they prepare for a tricky run of games over the festive schedule.

Recent form: DLWWL


Team News

Charlie Austin of QPR in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Queens Park Rangers and Rotherham United at Loftus Road on August 22, 2015 in London, England.© Getty Images

QPR will have to make do without the suspended Fer, who was shown a straight red card in the defeat at Middlesbrough.

Armand Traore is also expected to miss out for the Hoops, while Jamie Mackie might not be ready to make his return.

However, top scorer Charlie Austin, who has bagged seven league goals this season, should be available after recovering from a calf problem.

Leeds, meanwhile, will be unable to call upon the services of defender Gaetano Berardi, who was sent off against Rotherham last time out.

QPR possible starting lineup:
Green, Perch, Hall, Onuoha, Konchesky, Tozser, Sandro, Luongo, Emmanuel-Thomas, Phillips, Austin

Leeds possible starting lineup:
Silvestri, Byram, Bellusci, Cooper, Wootton, Dallas, Murphy, Mowatt, Cook, Wood, Antenucci


Head To Head

This is a fixture that Leeds have dominated in recent years and they are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings against the Hoops.

That sole win for QPR came two seasons ago, where Clint Hill scored the only goal in a 1-0 triumph at Elland Road.

In the returning meeting a few months later a goal from Jermaine Jenas cancelled out an early strike from Ross McCormack, as the clubs shared a 1-1 draw in West London.


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We say: QPR 1-1 Leeds

With both teams struggling for form and consistency, it is hard to know just how events will pan out at Loftus Road. QPR are also on the hunt for a new manager, while Leeds are still getting used to their new coach's way of playing. It could be quite tight and cagey at times, which is why we think that the match will end in a draw.



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Written by
Alex Meyers
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