RotherhamRotherham United

vs.

QPRQueens Park Rangers

Rotherham United will be looking to claw themselves closer to safety when they host mid-table Queens Park Rangers at the New York Stadium on Tuesday evening. The Millers are six points below the dotted line, but they have three games in hand and have to make the first of those count against a QPR side still not entirely out of the playoff picture.

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Match preview

United were further frustrated in their survival quest on Saturday as they played out a goalless draw with fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town. Paul Warne's men have won just two of their last 11 league games, losing eight of those, and they still have some difficult games to come. Tuesday's visit of QPR is the first of four successive home matches, though, including games against Coventry City and Birmingham City, who are very much in the relegation picture. Having lost five games in a row at the New York Stadium, it goes without saying that Warne's side quite simply need to get out of their slump if they are to dodge the drop. Scoring goals home and away has also been a big issue, the Millers having failed to find the net in seven of their last 10 league games, including in each of their last three. QPR have had far fewer problems scoring, failing to do so just once in their last 10, but they have recorded back-to-back wins just once since February. That is something Mark Warburton will be looking to put right in midweek on the back of his side's comfortable 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Lyndon Dykes scored two headers to make it three goals in his last two outings, while Stefan Johansen and Chris Willock were also on target at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. QPR have now won seven of their last nine home league games, but it is just one win in five on their travels, most recently losing 3-1 at Nottingham Forest. However, since the turn of the year, only Watford and Norwich (both 14) have won more Championship games than QPR's 11, the Rs already equalling their total of league wins in 2020. With another victory here, combined with other results going their way, the West London side may just find themselves in the playoff mix once again.

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Team News

Richard Wood returned from suspension last time out and slotted straight back into defence, leaving Joe Mattock as Rotherham's only known injury doubt. Ryan Giles has dropped to the bench in recent games but is among those pushing for a recall here, possibly in place of Ben Wiles. Matt Crooks and Michael Smith are expected to lead the hosts' line, though Freddie Ladapo is another contender should Warne wish to change things. As for the visiting side, they remain without striker Charlie Austin after he was hit with a three-game ban by the Football Association for violent conduct versus Forest. That will not bother Warburton too much given Dykes's form, with Ilias Chair and Willock positioned just off the Scotland international. Tom Carroll and Luke Amos will sit this one out through injury, but Jordy de Wijs returned from injury last time out to start against Wednesday. Rotherham United possible starting lineup: Johansson; Ihiekwe, Wood, MacDonald; Olosunde, Lindsay, Wing, Wiles, Harding; Crooks, Smith Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup: Dieng; Dickie, De Wijs, Barbet; Kakay, Johansen, Field, Wallace; Willock, Chair; Dykes

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We say: Rotherham United 0-1 Queens Park Rangers

QPR have been the third best side in the Championship in terms of form this calendar year, but they do not have the best of away records. Rotherham have lost five in a row on their own patch, though, so this is a good opportunity for Warburton's men to put another win on the board and climb the division.

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