Blackburn Rovers play host to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will ease any lingering pressure regarding a battle to avoid relegation from the Championship.
At a time when the home side sit in 18th place in the standings and eight points above their next opponents, the visitors occupy 22nd position.
Match preview
© Reuters
With Blackburn having collected just five points from their last 10 Championship fixtures, Jon Dahl Tomasson will be aware that he can ill-afford many more defeats in the short term.
The Dane's job felt very much at risk when Rovers went behind against League Two side Wrexham in the FA Cup fourth round on Monday evening, only for his side to take advantage of chaotic defending in the Welsh side's defence.
Prevailing 4-1 in that tie and setting up a showdown against one of his former clubs from his playing days, Newcastle United, has earned Tomasson more breathing space for now.
Nevertheless, Tomasson must instigate a turnaround in order to have Blackburn approaching the top half again as soon as possible, with the current gap standing at six points.
On a positive note, Blackburn are unbeaten in their last four fixtures at Ewood Park in all competitions, albeit with two draws coming against relegation rivals and the two wins in question being versus lower-league teams in the FA Cup.
From the perspective of QPR, Marti Cifuentes will feel that new life has been breathed into their survival campaign having collected four points from two games.
A 2-0 victory over Millwall was followed by a last-gasp 1-1 draw against Huddersfield Town, with the Hoops bouncing back from initially going behind with four minutes remaining.
There are signs that luck is turning back in QPR's favour at a time when each of Cifuentes's six defeats as head coach have all come by one-goal margins.
However, the West Londoners are bidding to put together a three-game undefeated streak together in the Championship for just the second time this season, highlighting their inconsistency under different managers.
Team News
© Reuters
Connor O'Riordan and Kyle McFadzean are both in contention to make their Blackburn debuts after arriving from Crewe Alexandra and Coventry City respectively.
Although any deadline-day additions may come into the squad, Tomasson could decide to stick with the remainder of the team that thrashed Wrexham.
That would see Sam Gallagher get the nod ahead of Semir Telalovic in attack.
Aaron Drewe is on standby to feature for QPR at right-back after Reggie Cannon was an early withdrawal against Huddersfield.
While Michael Frey has arrived from Schalke 04, Sinclair Armstrong should retain his spot down the middle of the frontline.
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pears; McFadzean, Hyam, Wharton; Dolan, Garrett, Tronstad, Sigurdsson; Moran, Szmodics; Gallagher
Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Drewe, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal; Colback, Field; Willock, Dykes, Chair; Armstrong
We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Queens Park Rangers
With QPR having bounced back recently, they will expect to travel to Ewood Park and return back to the capital with at least a point. However, boosted by the thrashing of Wrexham, Blackburn may have enough confidence in the final third to edge this contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
