Preview: Blackpool vs. Queens Park Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

Championship playoff contenders Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers meet in league action for the first time since 2014 on Saturday afternoon.

Only one point currently separates the Tangerines in 10th and the Hoops in fifth in the table – reflecting just how tight the battle for the top six is at the moment.

Match preview

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Having won the League One playoff final in May, Blackpool have staked an early claim to achieve back-to-back promotions with some impressive performances in the first three months of the campaign.

A run of three consecutive wins took the Tangerines to sixth in the table before a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke City on Wednesday evening after which Neil Critchley rued the "fine margins" of the Championship.

Nonetheless, Blackpool have six victories from their last nine matches and have adapted well to life in the second tier after a rocky start.

However, only Cardiff City and Hull City (five) have scored fewer goals at home in the Championship than Critchley's side this season (six), who have failed to net in half of their eight matches at Bloomfield Road so far.

Moreover, the Tangerines have failed to win any of their last seven league meetings with QPR, but did beat the Rs in their most recent encounter in the EFL Cup three years ago.

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While Blackpool's winning run came to an end in midweek, QPR picked up a first victory in three matches by beating Cardiff 1-0 on Wednesday, with Andre Gray's first-half goal proving decisive.

It was Mark Warburton's side's first win away from home since August and ended a run of four successive defeats on the road.

Only Fulham (43) have scored more goals in the Championship this season than QPR (27), with the Rs the only side in the division to score in all 16 matches so far.

That said, it is worth noting that Blackpool are the only team to stop free-flowing Fulham from scoring, when they beat the Cottagers 1-0 in September.

Rangers' playoff credentials will be tested even further after the international break, as they face fellow top six hopefuls Luton Town and Huddersfield Town in a fortnight.

Team News

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Richard Keogh lasted just 16 minutes of Blackpool's clash with Stoke on Wednesday before being forced off with a knock, making him a doubt for this game.

Critchley is hopeful that Kevin Stewart could be involved after missing the last four games through injury, while Dujon Sterling may also be available again.

However, goalkeeper Chris Maxwell and striker Shayne Lavery will not return until after the international break.

QPR's matchwinner at Cardiff Andre Gray later went off injured so could miss out on the trip to Bloomfield Road.

That could pave the way for Charlie Austin to return to the starting lineup, but the 32-year-old striker has not scored since August.

Sam McCallum and Jordy de Wijs both missed the midweek fixture after picking up injuries against Nottingham Forest last Friday and will be assessed ahead of the weekend.

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Lawrence-Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Garbutt, Husband; Bowler, Dougall, Wintle, Anderson; Yates, Madine

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Dickie, Dunne, Barbet; Adomah, Dozzell, Johansen, Odubajo; Chair; Dykes, Austin

We say: Blackpool 1-1 Queens Park Rangers

As the league table suggests, there is very little to separate these two clubs. While QPR were the team to win in midweek, they only just edged past a struggling Cardiff side, while Blackpool were unfortunate to be narrowly beaten by Stoke. Another tight match is in store and one which we think will end level.

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