Championship

[monks data]

Championship | Gameweek 40

Jun 30, 2020 at 6.30pm UK

Loftus Road Stadium

QPR
1 - 2
Fulham

Hugill (1')
Kakay (23'), Hugill (45+1')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Arter (21'), Christie (75')
Christie (32'), Cairney (53'), Knockaert (64')

Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Fulham - predictions, team news, lineups

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 28 June 2020

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Championship clash between West London rivals Queens Park Rangers and Fulham, including team news and predicted lineups.

West London rivals Queens Park Rangers and Fulham meet at Loftus Road on Tuesday evening seeking their first points since the Championship season resumed.

Fulham's automatic promotion hopes have all but ended following back-to-back defeats, while neighbours QPR have slipped into the bottom half after losing two from two.

Match preview

Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates with Joe Bryan after scoring on February 8, 2020 © Reuters

Seven points from nine prior to the three-month hiatus had Fulham well positioned to overhaul one of Leeds United or West Bromwich Albion for a place in the top two.

However, since the season resumed a little over a week ago the Cottagers have suffered a 2-0 loss to local rivals Brentford and a 3-0 reverse at Leeds.

From potentially being one point behind Leeds with seven games to play, Fulham are now 10 points behind the leaders and seven off West Brom, who have themselves struggled of late.

Indeed, with Brentford leapfrogging them into third and the chasing pack closing in, Scott Parker's men will now be looking over their shoulder in the final straight.

Fulham do at least have something to play for, unlike another of their local rivals in QPR, who are 10 points off the playoffs and eight above the relegation zone.

Queens Park Rangers' Eberechi Eze celebrates scoring their second goal with Marc Pugh on February 15, 2020 © Reuters

It is now a case of jostling for position in mid-table for Mark Warburton's side following 1-0 defeats to Barnsley and Charlton Athletic.

The biggest frustration for Warburton will be that QPR had momentum on their side before football was brought to a halt in March, winning three and drawing three of their last six games prior to lockdown.

A failure to score in those defeats to Barnsley and Charlton will be of particular concern, though the same is true of goal-shy Fulham after firing blanks in successive matches.

Fulham are now winless in four away matches, drawing three of those, though they do at least have a good record against Rangers.

The Cottagers have lost just two of the last 15 meetings between the sides in all competitions, most recently winning 2-1 in November's reverse fixture thanks to Aboubakar Kamara's brace.

QPR's Championship form: DWDWLL

Fulham's Championship form: DWWDLL

Team News

Bobby Reid celebrates scoring for Fulham on December 29, 2019 © Reuters

The hosts have no injury or suspension concerns on the back of their match at The Valley.

Todd Kane and Luke Amos lifted QPR when they were introduced from the bench in the disappointing defeat to Charlton and may return against Fulham.

Luke Amos was benched last time out in favour of Geoff Cameron, so that is another possible alteration Warburton could make.

As for Fulham, Parker will be desperate to get Aleksandar Mitrovic - the division's joint-top scorer with 23 goals - back on the scoresheet after four games without netting.

Fellow forward Neeskens Kebano was sent off against Leeds and will therefore play no part against Charlton, though he was unlikely so start anyway.

Elsewhere, Tom Cairney is in contention to return in holding midfield in place of either Harrison Reed or Harry Arter.

QPR possible starting lineup:
Kelly; Kane, Barbet, Masterson, Manning; Cameron, Amos; Samuel, Chair, Eze; Hugill

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Odoi, Hector, Ream, Bryan; Reed, Cairney; Knockaert, Reid, Cavaleiro; Mitrovic

We say: QPR 1-2 Fulham

Both sides have struggled since returning to action, but something has to give on Tuesday. Fulham still have a slim chance of going up automatically and have a good record against QPR, so we are backing them to come out on top in midweek.

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Queens Park Rangers win with a probability of 38.79%. A win for Fulham had a probability of 36.83% and a draw had a probability of 24.4%.

The most likely scoreline for a Queens Park Rangers win was 2-1 with a probability of 8.53%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-0 (7.68%) and 2-0 (5.81%). The likeliest Fulham win was 1-2 (8.27%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.27%). The actual scoreline of 1-2 was predicted with an 8.3% likelihood.