Preview: Queens Park Rangers vs Watford – prediction, team news, lineups

Watford make the journey to Loftus Highway to play Queens Park Rangers understanding {that a} win is realistically required to retain hope of creating the playoffs.

At a time when the Hornets sit in ninth place within the Championship desk, the Hoops are three factors adrift in twelfth place.

Match preview

Julien Stephan seemed to be on track to lose his job at QPR after they put collectively a current four-game shedding streak.

QPR conceded 12 objectives with out reply towards Southampton, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Birmingham Metropolis to recommend that the Frenchman had misplaced the backing of his squad.

Nevertheless, the West Londoners have extremely bounced again by scoring 9 instances throughout a double-header with Leicester Metropolis and Portsmouth.

For a staff that ought to have been centered on bettering their defence, it’s a sensational turnaround, notably the style wherein they scored six towards Pompey earlier than the worldwide break.

Going through a 10-point deficit to the playoffs, a bid for the highest six could also be past them, however ninth place – their highest end since relegation from the Premier League in 2014-15 – is effectively inside their attain.

So far as Watford are involved, they make the journey to the capital because the darkish horses to make the playoffs, with Edward Nonetheless having made a optimistic influence since his arrival at Vicarage Highway.

A complete of 12 factors have been amassed from eight matches, Watford struggling simply two defeats throughout that interval.

Watford have solely misplaced one in all their most up-to-date 5 fixtures, with 4 factors being amassed from dwelling contests versus Wrexham and Leicester Metropolis earlier than the worldwide break.

That each one stated, Watford’s away type stays a serious problem. Only one win – at Bristol Metropolis – has are available seven such matches throughout 2026.

Nonetheless, for the reason that arrival of Nonetheless, 5 factors have come from his 4 away fixtures, the solitary defeat coming by a 3-1 scoreline at Stoke Metropolis.

Queens Park Rangers Championship type:

L L L L W W

Watford Championship type:

L W D L W D

Crew Information

© Imago

Jonathan Varane might return to the QPR midfield with Isaac Hayden having represented Jamaica throughout the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Though Jimmy Dunne, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Harvey Vale and Paul Smyth had been additionally on worldwide responsibility on Tuesday, they had been a part of squads in video games in Cardiff and Dublin respectively.

There are prone to be a number of adjustments made to the Watford XI given the quantity of worldwide call-ups that they obtained.

Edo Kayembe and Nestory Irankunda are the largest doubts, the previous representing DR Congo within the aforementioned recreation versus Jamaica and the latter having been Down Below with Australia.

Tom Ince and Mamadou Doumbia might be handed remembers on the flank and in assault respectively.

Queens Park Rangers potential beginning lineup:

Walsh; Dunne, Edwards, Norrington-Davies; Vale, Morgan, Varane, Smyth; Cone, Collier

Watford potential beginning lineup:

Selvic; Abankwah, Pollock, Mendy, Bola; Ince, Louza, Ekwah, Chakvatadze; Kjerrumgaard, Doumbia

We are saying: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Watford

With each groups unbeaten in two matches, this could show to be a hard-fought fixture. Nevertheless, when each groups require most factors, they might be left dissatisfied in a aggressive encounter, notably Watford who want a win.

For information evaluation of the probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.