MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 07:58:04| >> :120:49311:49311:
[monks data]
Middlesbrough logo
Championship | Gameweek 42
Apr 17, 2021 at 12.30pm UK
Riverside Stadium
QPR logo

Middlesbrough
1 - 2
QPR

Bolasie (28')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Dickie (15'), Wallace (18')
Kakay (31')
Dieng (58')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Middlesbrough and Queens Park Rangers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Teams separated by just one place and two points face off at Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Middlesbrough host Queens Park Rangers.

Boro are winless in four and are no longer in realistic promotion contention, while QPR are positioned just behind after a mixed run of form.


Match preview

Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock pictured on January 16, 2021© Reuters

Neil Warnock made no secret of his desire to earn yet another promotion from the Championship this season, and for a while that looked a serious possibility.

However, one point from the last 12 on offer - coming in a 1-1 draw with Watford - has left the Smoggies 14 points adrift of the top six with 15 points to play for.

It is now a case of finishing as high up the division as possible for Warnock, who will have another crack at taking Middlesbrough up in 2021-22.

Boro have scored only twice during their four-game winless streak, but those three losses each came away from the Riverside.

At home, they have won two and drawn two of their last four outings, while QPR have lost back-to-back matches 3-1 on their travels.

Queens Park Rangers' Chris Willock celebrates scoring their first goal against Coventry City in the Championship on April 2, 2021© Reuters

Those successive away defeats come on the back of a run of just two losses in their previous 10 away from the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

The Rs have alternated between a win and defeat in their last four games overall, most recently following up a 4-1 win versus Sheffield Wednesday with a 3-1 loss at Rotherham United.

This is a fixture QPR tend to do well in, having lost just one of their last five league encounters with Boro, though the most recent of those finished in a 1-1 draw eight months ago.

The West London outfit are looking to win back-to-back away league games against Middlesbrough for just a second time, last doing so in March 2014.

Middlesbrough Championship form:
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • L

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L



Team News

Queens Park Rangers' Charlie Austin in action with Wycombe Wanderers' Curtis Thompson in the Championship on March 9, 2021© Reuters

QPR striker Charlie Austin will serve the last of a three-game ban for violent conduct in the recent defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Lyndon Dykes has stepped up with four goals in his last three outings, with Charlie Kelman selected alongside him in attack for the first time last week.

Fellow attacker Albert Adomah has been involved in five goals in his last six league appearances against Middlesbrough, but he will likely be among the substitutes on Saturday.

As for the home side, Sam Morsy suffered a season-ending injury earlier this month to join the likes of Dael Fry and Marcus Tavernier on the sidelines.

Britt Assombalonga and Yannick Bolasie were brought on as substitutes against Barnsley and could return to the XI for the visit of QPR.

Ashley Fletcher, who has two goals in 12 Championship appearances this season, is another pushing for inclusion.

Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Bettinelli; Fisher, Hall, McNair, Bola; Howson, Saville; Spence, Bolasie, Kebano; Assombalonga

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Dickie, De Wijs, Barbet; Kakay, Field, Johansen, Hamalainen; Willock; Bonne, Dykes


SM words green background

We say: Middlesbrough 1-1 Queens Park Rangers

There has been very little to separate Boro and QPR over the course of the campaign and two of the last three meetings between the sides have finished level.

We can see that being the case again at the Riverside on Saturday in a clash between two teams that will have to settle for a place just outside the playoffs.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data



ID:443236:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect8970:

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Middlesbrough win with a probability of 40.75%. A win for Queens Park Rangers had a probability of 31.33% and a draw had a probability of 27.9%.

The most likely scoreline for a Middlesbrough win was 1-0 with a probability of 12.2%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (8.29%) and 2-0 (7.72%). The likeliest Queens Park Rangers win was 0-1 (10.35%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.1%). The actual scoreline of 1-2 was predicted with a 7% likelihood.


Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Middlesbrough vs QPR

Middlesbrough
46.9%
Draw
37.5%
Queens Park Rangers
15.6%
32
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock pictured in February 2021
Read Next:
Neil Warnock backs Watford to "walk it" in promotion push
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!