QPR look to reignite their play-off push in a huge Championship clash against promotion-chasing Middlesbrough.
Victory will lift QPR up to 11th in the table, whilst second-placed Middlesbrough can move four points clear of third-placed Millwall.
Team News
QPR have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 2-0 loss to Sheffield United last weekend, with Kwame Poku set to return from a hamstring injury.
Nicolas Madsen (hamstring) and Ilias Chair (muscle) face late fitness checks, but Rumarn Burrell (hamstring) remains absent.
Middlesbrough will welcome Leo Castledine back into contention following his recovery from an unspecified injury, which had sidelined him in recent weeks.
Alex Bangura (unspecified), Alfie Jones (ankle) and Darragh Lenihan (Achilles) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
QPR host Middlesbrough at Loftus Road on Sunday 8 March at 4:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- QPR have won just one of their last six meetings against Middlesbrough (W1, L5).
- Middlesbrough have claimed nine points in their last seven league visits to QPR (W2, D3, L2).
- QPR have never suffered five consecutive defeats against Middlesbrough across all competitions.
- Julien Stephan’s Hoops have won just one of their last four home games (W1, L3).
- Middlesbrough have won each of their two previous away trips to London in the Championship this season, having won 3-0 at Millwall in August then 2-1 at Charlton in December.
Prediction
With just one win in their last five matches, QPR are now heading for another mid-table finish and after two wasteful displays in which they conceded seven goals across their last two outings, they really need to put in a defensive performance and be aggressive if want any chance of beating Middlesbrough.
Boro though did initially have to ride their luck at Birmingham before they produced a clinical attacking display once settled, whilst their game management was so solid that the Blues just couldn’t find those extra gears so this is a chance to keep building that renewed confidence after a dip.
This league though does have a habit of throwing up surprises even when a fixture likes this looks set to be one-sided on paper, so I am expecting QPR to bring some more fighting spirit but Middlesbrough should still pull through.
Prediction: QPR 1-2 Middlesbrough
Result: QPR 0-4 Middlesbrough