Both aiming to extend their unbeaten runs to four matches in the second tier, Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City will lock horns for a Championship battle on Saturday afternoon.
The R's managed a solid share of the spoils at the home of Watford last weekend, whilst the Canaries continued their stellar form at Carrow Road with the smashing of recently-relegated Luton Town.
Match preview
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Since returning from the November international break and a 2-0 defeat at the Elland Road fortress of Leeds United, Queens Park Rangers have strung together a three-game unbeaten run in the Championship, a spell that has included the collection of four points from a pair of recent away fixtures.
A brilliant brace from Slovenia international Zan Celar fired the R's to victory against Cardiff City in South Wales on November 27, before the London-based side ended the 11th month of 2024 with a goalless draw at Watford last Saturday, allowing goalkeeper Paul Nardi to boast back-to-back clean sheets.
Facing a brutal festive schedule as the race for survival intensifies in the second tier, QPR are currently occupying 23rd spot in the Championship table ahead of Saturday's capital clash, with Marti Cifuentes's troops lying two points behind Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle in the relative safety of 21st.
The R's will need to drastically improve their form at Loftus Road if they wish to avoid a season of third-tier football in 2025-26, with Saturday's hosts failing to win any of their opening nine matches at the venue this term, meaning that they are the only side in the division yet to taste success at home.
Making the net ripple on just 15 occasions across 18 Championship battles to date, there is also a serious goalscoring issue within the camp of Cifuentes, with the likes of Celar and Michael Frey failing to replace the antics of Lyndon Dykes, who switched to League One powerhouses Birmingham City over the summer.
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As is the case with this weekend's hosts, Norwich City will arrive at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon clutching a three-game unbeaten run since the international pause, earning a point at West Bromwich Albion before putting both Plymouth and Luton to the sword at Carrow Road over the past fortnight.
A despondent Green Army were hit for six in East Anglia on November 26 and four days later it was the turn of the struggling Hatters to endure a Norfolk nightmare, with a brace from Ante Crnac stealing the headlines as the Canaries recorded a 4-2 win over Rob Edwards's men.
Finding the net on four occasions across those two matches, Borja Sainz brought his Championship tally to a sensational 15 strikes as he looks set to canter towards the division's Golden Boot, with the 23-year-old already scoring double the amount that he managed across the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign.
Despite the collection of seven points from their last three second-tier matches, Norwich are still lagging behind in the pursuit of a top-six place, with Saturday's visitors to Loftus Road sitting ninth in the Championship standings, five points below Watford in the playoffs.
A formidable force at Carrow Road in recent times, the Canaries will be targeting major improvements on the road as they fight for a first Premier League berth since 2022, with Norwich last enjoying success outside of East Anglia on September 28, when a Sainz hat-trick defeated Derby County.
Team News
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QPR will be unable to call upon the services of midfielder Sam Field, who will now serve a one-game suspension for collecting his fifth yellow card of the season last time out.
As a result, summer arrival Nicolas Madsen will require a new partner in the engine room of the R's, with Jonathan Varane representing the most likely candidate.
The hosts' attacking issues have not been helped by a number of key absentees from their forward line, with Karamoko Dembele, Ilias Chair (knee) and Frey (calf) all currently unavailable.
Norwich have received a major fitness boost in the build-up to this weekend, with Jose Cordoba set to return to the matchday squad following a muscle injury.
Kenny McLean's re-emergence in the side has been a blessing considering the fitness woes of Liam Gibbs, whilst striker Josh Sargent is expected to be sidelined until the New Year because of a groin strain.
Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Nardi; Dunne, Cook, Morrison, Paal; Varane, Madsen, Smyth, Andersen, Saito; Celar
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Stacey, Duffy, Doyle, Fisher; Ben Slimane, McLean, Marcondes; Amankwah, Sainz, Crnac
We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Norwich City
Looking for their first home league win at the 10th attempt this weekend, QPR will not be excited at the prospect of an in-form Norwich visiting Loftus Road on Saturday.
The Canaries are significantly weaker on their travels compared to at Carrow Road, although we still believe that they will have enough for maximum points from this clash.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
