MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 08:29:45| >> :60:3358:3358:
[monks data]
Wolves logo
Championship
Aug 19, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
QPR logo

2-3

Afobe (17'), McDonald (24')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Austin (38'), Phillips (52', 72')

Preview: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Queens Park Rangers

Sports Mole looks ahead to Wednesday night's Championship match as Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Queens Park Rangers.

Wednesday night at Molineux sees two of the expected contenders for promotion from the Championship do battle as Wolverhampton Wanderers host Queens Park Rangers.

It's a second home game in a row against one of the newly-relegated sides for Wolves after they drew 1-1 with Hull City on Sunday.


Wolves

Kenny 'Grab Your' Jackett looks on during Wolves' game against Hull City on August 16, 2015© Getty Images

After back-to-back 2-1 wins in the league and Capital One Cup in the opening week, Wolves failed to win for the first time this season as Hull held them on Sunday.

Kenny Jackett's men benefited from a dubious winner at Blackburn Rovers on the opening weekend and can again count themselves a little lucky after Hull keeper Allan McGregor gifted them their equaliser two days ago.

By failing to win, Wolves missed out on the chance to go top of the table. Brighton & Hove Albion are the only side with a 100% record, with Wolves one of eight sides on four points after two games.

A draw with the Tigers means that Jackett's side haven't lost at Molineux in the league since early February, winning six of nine league games at home since Reading shocked them last season.

They've also been freely scoring in front of their own fans, finding the net 25 times in those nine unbeaten games.

However, as James Henry scored their equaliser against Hull, it was the first time in five competitive games that neither Benik Afobe or Nouha Dicko had found the net.

Recent form: WWD


QPR

Tiaronn Chery of Queens Park Rangers breaks away from Ahmed Kashi of Charlton Athletic during the Sky Bet Championship match between Charlton Athletic and Queens Park Rangers at The Valley on August 8, 2015© Getty Images

Chris Ramsey's side are still searching for their first league win of the season after being denied three points in the dying stages on Saturday evening.

Goals either side of half time from Charlie Austin and Clint Hill had put them in a commanding position against Cardiff City, but the visitors quickly pulled one back before Scott Malone rifled home from distance in added time to ruin the R's first home game of the season.

It leaves QPR 20th in the early table, only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, and Ramsey will be desperate to move up towards the top six.

Star striker Austin remains a QPR player, but has admitted that he is unsure where his future lies. Newcastle United had been consistently linked with the Englishman, but it looks like any potential move is now off, opening the door for West Ham United if they are willing to meet Rangers' valuation.

QPR's relegation from the Premier League last term was largely down to their woeful away form as they lost 16 of 19 matches on the road.

They have kept just one clean sheet in their last 27 away league games and showed little improvement on the opening weekend when they went down 2-0 at Charlton Athletic.

Recent form: LWD


Team News

Carl Ikeme of Wolverhampton Wanderers in action during the npower Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Barnsley at Molineux on August 21, 2012© Getty Images

Jackett made a bold call on Sunday by dropping number one Carl Ikeme to the bench as Arsenal loanee Damian Martinez kept his place after coming in for Wolves' Capital One Cup first-round tie against Newport County.

Ikeme, who still earned his first call-up to the Nigeria national squad yesterday, has been told that he must fight to regain his spot between the sticks and Martinez is likely to continue here.

Jackett is likely to name an unchanged starting lineup, with Dominic Iorfa keeping his place ahead of Matt Doherty at right-back.

Austin and Rob Green have both been linked with moves to West Ham, but as it stands they should feature at Molineux.

Ramsey has no other new concerns, but could start Jay Emmanuel-Thomas ahead of Tjaronn Chery in the number-10 role behind Austin. Jamie Mackie missed Saturday's visit of Cardiff and could return here.

Wolves possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Iorfa, Stearman, Hause, Golbourne; Henry, McDonald, Coady, Edwards; Afobe, Dicko

QPR possible starting lineup:
Green; Perch, Onuoha, Hill, Konchesky; Phillips, Luongo, Henry, Gladwin; Chery, Austin


Head To Head

This is the first meeting for three and a half years between the two sides, who were last in the same division in the 2011-12 Premier League.

Back in February 2012, Wolves came from behind to win 2-1 at Loftus Road and the Black County side have lost only twice to QPR in their last 17 meetings in league competition, winning eight.

However, one of those defeats was when QPR last visited Molineux in September 2011 as goals inside the first 10 minutes from Joey Barton and Alejandro Faurlin put the R's on course for a 3-0 win.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Wolves 2-1 QPR

Despite Austin still being a Ranger, it hasn't been a great start to the season for Ramsey's men. Wolves have been excellent at home of late and they should be able to extend their unbeaten run.



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