Newcastle United travel to relegated Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, knowing that a win could be enough to ensure that they do not join their hosts in the Championship next season.
QPR's most recent stay in the top flight has lasted just one campaign and they will be looking to end on a high following a forgettable few months for the club and its supporters.
Queens Park Rangers
© Getty Images
Queens Park Rangers saw their relegation confirmed last weekend as they were thrashed 6-0 at Manchester City.
Head coach Chris Ramsey faced a tough task when he took over from Harry Redknapp in February and has been fighting a losing battle in his brief tenure as manager.
QPR were outside the drop zone on goal difference when he took the helm and, barring a few glimpses of hope here and there, he has been unable to steer them away from trouble.
Ramsey is yet to win a Premier League match at Loftus Road, losing five and drawing one of his six games on home soil.
It is not clear yet if he will remain as QPR boss in the Championship next season, but positive results in their final few games of this campaign could be enough to earn him the job in the long term.
Recent form: LWDLDL
Newcastle United
© Getty Images
Newcastle managed to bring to an end their dismal run of form last weekend when they drew 1-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion.
Prior to that, John Carver's side had lost eight games on the bounce for just the second time in the club's history, which sent the Magpies spiralling towards the bottom three.
With two games of the season remaining, Newcastle are two points ahead of Hull City, who occupy the final relegation place. Should Carver's men win at Loftus Road and Hull fail to win just across London at Tottenham Hotspur, then they will be safe.
However, if Newcastle lose and Hull win, then it will be the Magpies who will head into the final round of fixtures in the relegation zone.
Carver's hopes of getting the Newcastle job on a long-term basis have been dashed by the poor run that he has presided over, but he will be determined to ensure that he at least retains their Premier League status ahead of the next man taking charge in the summer.
Recent form: LLLLLD
Team News
© Getty Images
Despite their relegation, Ramsey has insisted that QPR will field their strongest side against Newcastle. Nedum Onuoha, who was suspended for the City clash, could come back into the side, while Junior Hoilett will be hoping that he will be handed a start.
Elsewhere, it appears that the likes of Richard Dunne, Bobby Zamora and Leroy Fer will start as QPR look to give their fans something to shout about before the season's end.
Newcastle will be without Mike Williamson, who serves the second of his two-match ban for his sending-off at Leicester. Daryl Janmaat will return following a one-game ban for his dismissal in the same match.
Remy Cabella was brought back into the fold for the draw with West Brom and he could keep his place in the side, although Siem de Jong looks likely to miss out due to injury.
Experienced striker Papiss Cisse came off the bench against West Brom after his seven-match ban and he could be handed a start with Newcastle needing goals.
Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Green; Onuoha, Dunne, Hill; Phillips, Henry, Fer, Barton, Hoilett; Zamora, Austin
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini, R Taylor, Dummett; Gutierrez, Sissoko, Colback, Cabella, Perez; Cisse
Head To Head
Newcastle will be pleased that they are facing QPR this weekend, given that they have won seven and lost none of their last nine league encounters with the Hoops.
QPR's last win over the Magpies came at Loftus Road in February 1995 when they recorded a 3-0 win courtesy of a brace from Les Ferdinand and a strike from Simon Barker.
Newcastle won 2-1 on their last visit in May 2013, while a Moussa Sissoko strike was enough to give them a 1-0 success over the West Londoners in the return fixture earlier this season.
Video Preview
Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Newcastle United
Queens Park Rangers will be looking for an improved performance now that the pressure is off and they will fancy their chances of putting a serious dent in Newcastle's survival hopes.
However, for all the poor form they have shown of late, Newcastle have plenty of quality in their dressing room and if they can repeat the performance that they put in against West Brom, they should have enough to take something from this game.
No Data Analysis info
