MX23RW : Wednesday, March 12 06:57:02| >> :120:74329:74329:
[monks data]
QPR logo
Championship
Apr 26, 2014 at 3pm UK
 
Millwall logo

1-1

Austin (78' pen.)
FT(HT: 0-0)
Malone (90')

Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs. Millwall

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between Queens Park Rangers and relegation-threatened Millwall at Loftus Road.

Millwall's revival faces arguably its toughest test yet when they travel to Loftus Road to take on Queens Park Rangers in their penultimate game of the season on Saturday.

The Lions have produced a drastic turnaround in form over the last few weeks to breathe new life into their hopes of survival, going six matches unbeaten including three victories.

Towards the end of March it appeared as if Ian Holloway's side were dead and buried, but they have since climbed out of the bottom three and have survival in their own hands with just two matches to go.

Failure to build upon their recent improved form could be fatal, however, as they are still just one point clear of the relegation zone and have a worse goal difference than all but one of the other contenders.

Birmingham City's game in hand could make Millwall the most susceptible to the drop as things stand, but they have the priceless commodity that is momentum on their side, despite a goalless draw against 10-man Doncaster Rovers on Easter Monday.

Victory on Saturday would be enough for them go into their season finale against Bournemouth free from the worry of relegation if Blackpool also fail to beat Wigan Athletic.

Millwall will be confident that they can claim another big scalp too, having won away to playoff hopefuls Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Wigan Athletic in recent weeks.

Indeed, they have won three in a row on the road and four of their last six, a remarkable improvement considering that they had won just one away game all season before that.

Holloway will be without Danny Shittu and Ed Upson for what is left of the season, while Owen Garvan is also a doubt for Saturday.

QPR pose a formidable barrier for Millwall to get past, but the Lions may be helped by the fact that playoff football is now a mathematical certainty for the hosts.

Having been favourites for the title going into the season, largely due to their extortionate wage bill, finishing 20 points behind champions Leicester City cannot be viewed as a particularly successful campaign.

However, Harry Redknapp will not think twice about the gap between his side and the top two if they can join them in the Premier League next season via the playoffs.

Even the prospect of finishing third looks beyond the Hoops now, but they will want to take some good form into the playoffs and have a good chance to do that with two of the bottom five left to play.

They also boast the second best home record in the Championship having lost just twice in front of their own fans this season and once since the turn of the year.

Top scorer Charlie Austin is back fit and firing for Redknapp's side, but Alejandro Faurlin and Matthew Phillips remain sidelined through injury.

Recent form

QPR: DLLWLW

Millwall: DWWDWD

Possible starting lineups

QPR: Green; Simpson, Dunne, Onuoha, Assou-Ekotto; Barton, Carroll, Benayoun, Morrison, Hoilett; Austin

Millwall: Forde; Edwards, Beevers, Dunne, Malone; Woolford, Bailey, Williams, Martin; McDonald; Maierhofer

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Written by
Barney Corkhill
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QPR manager Harry Redknapp on the touchline during his team's match against Burnley on October 26, 2013
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