Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace travel to relegation rivals Queens Park Rangers on Sunday without a manager following the sacking of Neil Warnock.

The 66-year-old became the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season after a 3-1 home defeat to Southampton left Palace without a win in six games and 18th in the table.

Tim Sherwood, Chris Hughton and former Eagles defender Tony Popovic are believed to be in the frame to replace Warnock, who only returned to Selhurst Park in the summer following the resignation of Tony Pulis.

However, it will again be the safe hands of Keith Millen, for the third time, who takes caretaker charge for their trip to Loftus Road, where the Hoops have won their last three matches to climb to 16th.

Their miserable away form shows little signs of improving, though, with a 2-1 defeat to 10-man Arsenal on Boxing Day condemning them to an eighth straight loss on the road since the start of the season.

One positive to take from their pointless visit to the Emirates Stadium was another goal for Charlie Austin, who now has 12 in the Premier League this campaign - double what Palace's strikers have between them.

Dwight Gayle, Marouane Chamakh and Fraizer Campbell have managed only six in 40 appearances combined, and so the Eagles are expected to press forward with plans to sign a forward despite Warnock's departure.

With the other two injured, Millen has little choice but to select Gayle at the spearhead of an attacking three which could include both unpredictable wingers, Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie, on the flanks.

Elsewhere, Millen is unlikely to deter too far from Warnock's Christmas plans, with only 24 hours to prepare for the fixture. Martin Kelly is in contention for a recall at the expense of Adrian Mariappa at right-back.

Rangers boss Harry Redknapp should drop the 5-4-1 system that he employed against the Gunners and restore Bobby Zamora alongside Austin in a two-man attack which has proved so effective on home soil.

Behind them, injuries to Joey Barton, Sandro and Alejandro Faurlin mean that Jordan Mutch will continue in a midfield which is expected to welcome back Leroy Fer on the left side, after he was rested on Boxing Day.

Armand Traore is again in line to deputise for Yun Suk-young at left-back, while both Rio Ferdinand and Nedum Onuoha could be removed from the defence, with Richard Dunne back to partner Steven Caulker.

QPR are unbeaten in six matches against Palace and have won the last three meetings in all competitions.

QPR:

Recent form: WLWLWL

Possible starting lineup: Green; Isla, Dunne, Caulker, Traore; Fer, Henry, Mutch, Vargas; Zamora, Austin

Palace:

Recent form: DLDDLL

Possible starting lineup: Speroni; Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Ward; Jedinak, McArthur, Ledley; Bolasie, Zaha, Gayle

Sports Mole says: 2-0