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

Queens Park Rangers play host to Luton Town on Thursday evening looking for a win which could see the club move back into the Championship playoff spots.

However, despite Luton sitting four points adrift of their seventh-placed hosts in the standings, the Hatters can move ahead of QPR with a victory at Loftus Road.

Match preview

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Given all the uncertainty surrounding Michael Beale, it became increasingly obvious that QPR needed a clean break from the speculation which came with the highly-rated head coach who has since moved to Rangers.

Now that scenario has been brought to a close, Neil Critchley has been brought in and delivered four points from two matches, including back-to-back clean sheets.

Although a goalless draw at struggling Cardiff City will be deemed disappointing in some quarters, it kept QPR ticking along and in the top seven of the table.

The London outfit had not kept successive shutouts since the middle of September, and Critchley will feel that his team are in prime position to pounce on some of the teams above them losing their way.

However, home form will prove key, and the Hoops head into this contest having lost their most recent three fixtures at Loftus Road.

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Luton recently found themselves in a similar situation to QPR as Southampton made an approach to secure the services of Nathan Jones, who also took the opportunity to move to a bigger club.

Replacement Rob Edwards has had to bide his team to get stuck into the role, but the wait was made worth it as Luton shook off a last-gasp defeat at Middlesbrough in his first game to be on the right end of a dramatic finale versus Norwich City.

Despite being down to 10 men, the Hatters netted an 89th-minute through Cauley Woodrow, catapulting the club to just two points within their fifth-placed opponents.

With the triumph just Luton's second in eight games, Edwards will not be getting carried away, but the result was an important step to trying to get supporters onside after his previous stint at rivals Watford.

Team News

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Having earned a credible draw from their trip to South Wales, Critchley will be open to retaining the same QPR XI for this contest.

However, he has plenty of alternatives now at his disposal, Ilias Chair in contention for a recall after representing Morocco at the World Cup.

As well as the playmaker, Luke Amos and Tyler Roberts are also pushing for a return to the starting lineup.

Luton will have to make do without Gabriel Osho after the defender was sent off for two yellow cards versus Norwich.

With Amari'i Bell back in contention after his own one-match ban, Edwards could make a straight swap, potentially moving Daniel Potts to the right-hand side of the back three.

Woodrow is in line to replace either Carlton Morris or Elijah Adebayo after netting as a substitute against the Canaries.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Dieng; Laird, Dickie, Dunne, Paal; Dozzell, Field, Iroegbunam; Chair, Dykes, Willock

Luton Town possible starting lineup:

Horvath; Potts, Lockyer, Bell; Bree, Campbell, Clark, Mpanzu, Doughty; Morris, Woodrow

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Luton Town

On the back of their recent results, this could turn out to be an entertaining clash as both teams look to impress under new managers. With that in mind, however, we feel that a hard-earned draw may be played out, one which may be deemed satisfactory by both sides.

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