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

Championship playoff contenders Queens Park Rangers will hope to get their form back on track against a Hull City side who have also been struggling of late.

The Rs have lost their last two matches but remain fourth in the table, while the Tigers are winless in four and sit 20th.

Match preview

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After suffering a shock 1-0 defeat to bottom club Barnsley last weekend, QPR were beaten 2-0 by Millwall on Tuesday night.

It leaves Mark Warburton's side six points behind the automatic promotion spots, but still five clear of seventh place.

Rangers have the joint-worst defence in the top half of the Championship with 36 goals conceded, while they have not gone three games without scoring since October 2020.

However, they are unbeaten in their last four home matches and have only lost three times at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this season.

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Since winning his first game in charge against Swansea City, Hull boss Shota Arveladze has led the team to just one point in the last four matches.

The 0-0 draw against Sheffield United in midweek ended a three-game losing streak and Arveladze hailed a "golden point" earned at Bramall Lane.

The Tigers – who are still 12 points clear of relegation danger – have won just one of their last six matches away from home.

With games against bottom three sides Barnsley and Peterborough United to come before the end of the month, the Tigers will be keen to put even further daylight between themselves and the drop zone over the next 10 days.

QPR won 3-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but the Tigers have won on four of their last five trips to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Team News

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Rob Dickie is suspended for QPR after picking up his 10th booking of the season last weekend; Dion Sanderson should replace him in the back three.

Lee Wallace is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a groin injury against Millwall. It could open the door for Sam McCallum to make his return from a three-month injury at left wing-back.

Mark Warburton could be tempted to restore Seny Dieng between the sticks after leaving the goalkeeper on the bench in the last two matches following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Lewie Coyle has been ruled out for Hull after suffering a hamstring injury against Sheffield United, meaning Di'Shon Bernard could be asked to fill in at right-back.

There is better news regarding Mallik Wilks, who may return to the matchday squad after two months on the sidelines.

Marcus Forss is still looking for his first Tigers goal since signing on loan from Brentford in January, with Tom Eaves pushing to replace him in the starting lineup.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Sanderson, Barbet, Dunne; Odubajo, Field, Johansen, McCallum; Chair; Willock, Austin

Hull City possible starting lineup:
Ingram; Bernard, Greaves, McLoughlin, Fleming; Lewis-Potter, Slater, Smallwood, Longman; Honeyman; Forss

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Hull City

QPR will not want to get stuck in a rut as they battle for promotion, so a win here on home turf would be vital. We think that they will just about get it, with Hull not looking totally convincing under Shota Arveladze so far.

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