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

Peterborough United and Queens Park Rangers take a break from Championship action on Saturday afternoon to try to earn a place in the FA Cup fifth round.

At a time when Posh are five matches without success in the second tier, QPR have prevailed in five of their last six outings to move into fourth position in the standings.

Match preview

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Over the past three-and-a-half months, QPR have not posed the same threat in attack, going through that period without scoring more than twice in 18 matches.

However, Mark Warburton's team let out their frustration against Reading last weekend, scoring three first-half goals before adding a fourth shortly after the break.

Not only did the Hoops extend their unbeaten streak to seven games, Lyndon Dykes scored his first Championship goals since the end of October, taking him to eight for the campaign.

On some level, Warburton may feel that his squad could have done without the extra fixture, but QPR have the chance to reach the last 16 of this competition for the third time in four attempts.

The London outfit required penalties to progress through to the fourth round, eventually prevailing 8-7 in a shootout against Rotherham United.

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Peterborough were also made to fight before sealing their place at this stage, Posh only emerging victorious by a 2-1 scoreline against League Two outfit Bristol Rovers.

That result represents just one of two wins from 14 games in all competitions, the other coming by the same scoreline against Millwall during the middle of December.

Darren Ferguson's have since collected just one point from a possible 12 in the second tier, the 2-2 draw at Birmingham City being posted despite holding a two-goal lead with five minutes remaining.

Having lost 2-0 at home to Sheffield United last time out, Ferguson would have probably preferred to remain on league duty, although this tie gives the club a chance to replicate the 2-1 win that they achieved against QPR in the Championship back in October.

Team News

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Having joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United respectively, Dion Sanderson and Jeff Hendrick should both make their first starts for QPR.

Further changes to the starting lineup are also expected with Dykes potentially only being named among the replacements.

The likes of Ilias Chair and Andre Gray may be rested having recently spent time representing their nations.

Ferguson will likely make a number of changes to his Peterborough XI, possibly handed starts to deadline-day arrivals Hayden Coulson and Reece Brown.

Callum Morton may feature from the start in place of Jack Marriott, who has recently returned from injury, but Dan Butler misses out through injury.

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Cornell; Kent, Thompson, Knight; Mumba, Fuchs, Norburn, Coulson; Szmodics; Morton, Clarke-Harris

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Marshall; Sanderson, Dickie, Barbet; Kakay, Hendrick, Johansen, Wallace; Thomas; Austin, Willock

We say: Peterborough United 0-2 Queens Park Rangers

While both managers will naturally make alterations to their sides, we do not feel it will influence the final result. QPR's strength in depth is far greater than their hosts, and that should help them claim a relatively comfortable win.

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