Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers square off at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon with both clubs looking to avoid spending the international break in the Championship relegation zone.

As a result of prolonged losing runs for each side, the home team sit in 21st spot in the standings, two places adrift of the visitors.

Match preview

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There have been times this season when QPR appeared to be making small progress under Gareth Ainsworth, who has remained under pressure since a poor start after his arrival.

However, back-to-back draws with Swansea City and Birmingham City in the space of three days have been followed by defeats to Coventry City and Leeds United.

In only losing 1-0 at the home of the latter, positives can still be taken, but this is a team who have now lost six of their 10 league games during 2023-24.

Furthermore, just eight goals have been scored, while QPR have still failed to score more than twice in a game since Ainsworth was appointed as boss in March.

Criticism of the former Wycombe Wanderers manager is justified, yet the mood can be lifted at Loftus Road if they post their first win at their home ground since March 11.

Meanwhile, Jon Dahl Tomasson faces a fight to retain the reins at Blackburn on the back of four defeats in succession in the Championship.

Although Rovers have won three times in the EFL Cup to reach the last 16, they have been well below-par in the league, recently shipping 11 goals in just three matches.

Conceding a late goal to lose 1-0 at Coventry City was harsh on Tomasson and his players, yet this is a club that have won just four of their last 19 Championship matches.

The hope had been that Blackburn would mount another promotion challenge, regardless of the financial cutbacks in the summer, but defeat at the weekend could leave them in the relegation zone over the international break.

Team News

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Goalkeeper Jordan Archer could make his first Championship start of the season for Queens Park Rangers, a result of Asmir Begovic serving a suspension.

That is dependent on an appeal, which QPR expect to win, but further changes may be made with Albert Adomah potentially getting the nod at right wing-back ahead of Paul Smyth.

Ainsworth also has the option of using Lyndon Dykes down the centre of the attack ahead of Sinclair Armstrong, who has netted just once in the Championship this season.

With Adam Wharton suffering a groin issue against Coventry, Sondre Tronstad could feature in the Blackburn midfield, potentially alongside Lewis Travis who dropped down to the substitutes' bench for that fixture.

Arnor Sigurdsson could be drafted into the side on one of the flanks, but the defence may stay the same given the improvements that were made against the Sky Blues.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Archer; Kakay, Cook, Clarke-Slater; Adomah, Colback, Field, Dozzell, Paal; Chair; Dykes

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Wahlstedt; Hill, Carter, Hyam, Brittain; Sigurdsson, Travis, Tronstad, Moran, Dolan; Szmodics

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Blackburn Rovers

This has all the makings of being a nervy affair, particularly in the case of QPR who are making minimal progress under Ainsworth. Both teams may settle for a point, but Blackburn could take their chance to net a winner during the closing stages.

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