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

Queens Park Rangers head into Saturday's fixture with Huddersfield Town looking for the victory which would keep the club in the Championship playoff race.

Meanwhile, the visitors, who are down in 19th position, are currently on a four-match winless streak in the second tier, a run which has kept the Terriers in a relegation battle.

Match preview

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At the turn of the year, Mark Warburton would have inevitably questioned how long he would remain in the QPR dugout after a nine-match winless streak left the club at risk of relegation.

However, the Hoops have responded with 25 points being collected from just 12 matches, moving the team up to 12th place with a game in hand.

Now sitting 14 points clear of the drop zone, Warburton will feel that his players can play with more freedom during the closing weeks, remaining hopeful that a few more victories in a row will keep QPR in contention for the top six.

While that currently appears unlikely, playing a match fewer than the teams above them means that they will stay in the conversation, providing that they can continue to accumulate over two points per game for the rest of the campaign.

Although goals remain an issue for QPR, keeping consecutive clean sheets against Bristol City and Wycombe Wanderers have been a welcome boost after conceding five times in their previous two outings.

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From Huddersfield's perspective, Carlos Corberan will be satisfied that his side can head into the fixture at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on the back of two draws.

Nevertheless, the stalemates with Birmingham City and Cardiff City have not been enough to ease any lingering concerns regarding relegation with Rotherham United six points adrift with three matches in hand.

While victory in London would go some way to lifting the mood at the John Smith's Stadium, some supporters have doubts over whether their misfiring side have the quality to claim the four wins which should ensure that they remain in the Championship.

Yaya Sanogo, no stranger to the capital having previously represented Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic, will want to make amends after his missed penalty against the Bluebirds last Friday.

Team News

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Warburton must decide whether to hand Jordy de Wijs a third successive start within a week after his recent return from a calf injury.

Barring any unforeseen fitness issues, Warburton may decide to select the same side which impressed at Bristol City.

Isaac Mbenza will expect to return to the Huddersfield XI after remaining as an unused substitute against Cardiff.

While Duane Holmes is also pushing for a start, Corberan may keep changes to a minimum after the draw with the in-form Welsh side.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Dickie, De Wijs, Barbet; Kane, Johansen, Field, Wallace; Chair, Willock; Austin

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Schofield; Edmonds-Green, Keogh; Rowe, Bacuna, Vallejo, O'Brien, Pipa; Mbenza, Campbell

We say: Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Huddersfield Town

Given their away record this season, there is no reason to believe that Huddersfield will upset the odds at the weekend. With that in mind, we are backing QPR to grind out a hard-fought win as they bid to remain in the playoff hunt.