Knock-off rivals QPR and West Brom go head to head at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in the Championship. Only a point separates the two teams.
Their last meeting was in the reverse fixture of September when West Brom came out 2-1 winners. Andy Gray scored early for QPR but Karlen Grant’s second-half brace sealed the win.
The home side sit 5th on the table with 41 points, they are a point behind their visitors but have a game in hand over them. A win here for QPR will take them above West Brom in the league table.
Current Premier League Standings
QPR won their 3rd round of FA Cup against League One’s Rotherham United. The game ended 1-1 and the Hoops won the exciting penalty shootout that ended 8-7 in the home side’s favour.
The Hoops have failed to beat West Brom in any of their five meetings. They have lost four of the five games and drawn one. Their manager Mark Warburton will be hoping to change this record in the upcoming game.
QPR Championship form: W L L W W
The away side occupy 4th place on the table with 42 points. They are 6 points behind Fulham in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
West Brom have failed to win in their last three matches which all came against the bottom five sides. They lost to the bottom of the table Derby County and drew against Barnsley and Cardiff City. The Baggies cannot afford to drop points like these if they want to chase down the top 2.
West Brom have a very good record against QPR in the Championship recently. They will be hoping this plays in the back of the mind of some of QPR’s players.
West Brom Championship form: W W D L D
QPR vs West Brom: Team news
QPR
Ilias Chair, Seny Dieng, and Osman Kakay will not feature for the home side as they are off to represent their countries in the African Cup of Nations.
January signing David Marshall is expected to replace Seny Deing in the goal. Their second choice keeper Jordan Arthur was injured in the FA Cup penalty shoot-out and will be sidelined for this game.
Possible QPR starting line-up
Marshall; Dickie, Dunne, Barbet; Odubajo, Ball, Johansen, Wallace; Willock; Austin, Dykes
West Brom
Cedric Kipre will be serving his suspension from the red card he received in Baggies’ FA Cup fixture against Brighton. At the same time, Alex Mowatt and Sam Johnstone return from serving their suspensions and are expected to start for West Brom.
Robert Snodgrass, Dara O’Shea, and Kean Bryan are all on the treatment table and will be absent for the away side.
Semi Ajayi will be another absentee as he has travelled to participate in the African Cup of Nations.
Possible West Brom starting line-up
Johnstone; Clarke, Bartley, Townsend; Furlong, Livermore, Mowatt, Reach; Grant, Diangana; Robinson
Our Prediction
QPR 2-2 West Brom
The two teams have some quality players on their sides. They will cancel each other out and play a draw. There have been goals guaranteed when these two play.
History favours the away side, but QPR are on a decent run of form coming into this game. It should be a good watch for the neutrals.
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