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

Queens Park Rangers will aim to put more pressure on the Championship's automatic promotion places when they host Reading on Saturday.

The Rs are currently fourth in the table and unbeaten in five league matches, while the Royals are hovering just two points above the relegation zone in 21st.

Match preview

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QPR's five-match winning run in all competitions came to an end on Tuesday night as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Swansea City.

Mark Warburton said that his players deserved "enormous credit" for their streak of victories, which has cemented the club's position in the playoffs.

Going into this weekend, the Rs are four points behind the automatic promotion places with a game in hand over second-placed Blackburn Rovers.

Warburton's side have only lost three home games in the Championship this season and have kept clean sheets in four of their last six matches at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

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Reading's woes continued in a 4-3 home defeat to Huddersfield Town last weekend – their fifth consecutive loss in all competitions.

The Royals have won just two of their last 15 league matches and combined with a six-point deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability rules, this has thrust them into a relegation battle.

Veljko Paunovic has lost the support of nearly the entire fanbase, but the club reportedly cannot afford to sack the Serbian.

Only Peterborough United have conceded more goals in the Championship this season than Reading, who have not kept a clean sheet since mid-October.

However, the Royals are unbeaten in their last six matches against QPR. The two sides played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Select Car Leasing Stadium earlier in the season.

Team News

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QPR's Chris Willock was taken off late on against Swansea in midweek as a precaution due to a "small knee problem", but he should be fit to play on Saturday.

New signing Dion Sanderson will be pushing to make his debut, but he will struggle to displace current centre-back trio Rob Dickie, Jimmy Dunne and Yoann Barbet. Sam McCallum and Jordan Archer remain sidelined through injury, while Seny Dieng, Ilias Chair and Andre Gray are all on international duty.

Veljko Paunovic switched to a 4-4-2 diamond formation last weekend that allowed Lucas Joao and George Puscas to play upfront together – he was rewarded as both players found the scoresheet.

Ovie Ejaria is in contention to feature after missing the last nine games, but Junior Hoilett is on international duty.

Goalkeeper Karl Hein became Reading's first signing of the January transfer window when he moved on loan from Arsenal this week, but Luke Southwood should keep his place between the sticks for now.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Marshall; Dickie, Dunne, Barbet; Adomah, Field, Johansen, Wallace; Willock; Dykes, Austin

Reading possible starting lineup:

Southwood; Yiadom, Holmes, Morrison, Rahman; Laurent, Rinomhota, Drinkwater, Swift; Puscas, Joao

We say: Queens Park Rangers 2-0 Reading

This game is surely heading only one way. QPR have been in fantastic form and are upwardly mobile, while Reading are stuck in a torrid rut and look in real danger of losing their Championship status. We expect the hosts to be relatively comfortable victors.