QPR look to get back to winning ways against out of form Preston North End

Queens Park Rangers will look to get back to winning ways this weekend at Loftus Road when they take on a Preston North End side who are winless in their last five league games.

Despite a poor start to the season, in which QPR lost their first four games and there were calls for Steve McClaren to be sacked, the West London side have significantly improved throughout the campaign.

An unbeaten October in which QPR won four of their matches and drew the other, saw McClaren win the Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award, highlighting the improvements under the former England boss compared to the start of the season.

Preston played QPR in the first game of the season and were 1-0 winners at Deepdale thanks to a header from Alan Browne, Preston’s Player of the Year last season. That was the first of seven league wins during this campaign for Preston who now find themselves in 18th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone.

The Lilywhites have not tasted victory since mid-December when they were 3-2 winners against Millwall. A defeat against QPR could see Preston move down two places in the table if Wigan (one point behind) and Millwall (two points behind) win their matches.

The R’s are just four points behind Derby County who occupy the last of the play-off position and could put themselves back in the mix if they can get three points when they host Preston.

Team news

Angel Rangel (thigh), Geoff Cameron (ankle) and Tomer Hemed (hernia) remain sidelined for QPR.

Massimo Luongo is still on international duty with Australia after the Socceroos beat Syria in midweek.

Preston’s top scorer Callum Robinson is out of action for three months after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury in late November.

Paul Huntington (groin) and captain Tom Clarke (calf) are doubtful for the trip to the capital after coming off in last weekend’s match against Swansea City.

Josh Earl, who came on for Huntington at half-time, was sent off after receiving two yellow cards and will, therefore, be absent when Preston travel to QPR.

Prediction

Preston will be more desperate to get the win but they are currently low on confidence and QPR will look to take advantage of that. The home side should be doing their utmost to get three points from this fixture and keep their faint playoff hopes alive.

Queens Park Rangers 3-1 Preston North End