MATCH PREVIEW: QPR V LEEDS UNITED

MATCH PREVIEW: QPR V LEEDS UNITED

We look ahead to Saturday's clash.

Leeds United travel to Loftus Road to take on Queens Park Rangers in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday, with Thomas Christiansen's side looking to go three games without defeat in the division, after beating Barnsley and drawing with Aston Villa.  The Whites haven't won at Loftus Road since May 2011, with QPR having won two of the last three outings in London since.   Ian Holloway's side sit six points above the drop zone and have failed to win a match since October 31st when they beat Sheffield United.  The R's come into the game on the back of a narrow 1-0 away defeat at Preston North End, but dramatically snatched a point in there last home game, by scoring two goals in stoppage time, to draw 2-2 with Brentford.


League position

QPR: 18th

Leeds United: 8th

 

Recent form

QPR: LLLDL

Leeds United: LWLWD

 

Head to head

QPR wins: 18

Draws: 16

Leeds United wins: 20

 

Last time at Loftus Road

Sky Bet Championship

QPR 3 (Onuoha 4, Chery pen 73, Polter 90+4)

Leeds United 0

Attendance: 16,764 (3,213 Leeds)

 

QPR: Smithies, Bidwell, Hall, Onuoha, Caulker, Chery (Perch 87), Gladwin (Cousins 56), Henry, Luongo, Shodipo (El Khayati 68), Polter. Subs not used: Ingram, Lynch, Kpekawa, Washington.

Leeds: Green, Berardi (Coyle 22), Bamba, Bartley, Taylor, Diagouraga, Vieira, M. Grimes (Antonsson 61), Dallas, Roofe (Sacko 75), Wood. Subs not used: Turnbull, Cooper, Phillips, Mowatt.


Leeds sat at the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship following a 3-0 opening defeat to QPR at Loftus Road in our first game of last season.  Nedum Onuoha gave the Hoops the lead scrappily from a corner inside four minutes. Tjaronn Chery doubled QPR’s lead from the spot, after Ronaldo Vieira brought down Jordan Cousins in the box.  Substitute Marcus Antonsson had a good chance to pull a goal back when he went through one-on-one, but couldn’t find the target, before Sebastian Polter added a third in added time from a narrow angle.

 

Team news

Whites trio Stuart Dallas, Pierre-Michel Lasogga and  Eunan O'Kane all missed last Friday's draw with Aston Villa and could all make a return for the trip to Loftus Road.  Pablo Hernandez who was withdrawn in the first half of the 1-1 draw will also face a late fitness test.  QPR will be without forward Jamie Mackie and dedender Alex Baptiste for the match after both were dismissed in last Saturday's defeat at Preston North End.  Kazenga LuaLua has also returned to his parent club Brighton & Hove Albion, after a mutual agreement was made to end his loan spell early after making eight appearances for the club.  Luke Freeman will be available for the R's once again after serving a one match suspension at Preston.

 

The key battle

Matt Smith v Pontus Jansson

Former Whites striker Smith is a player United fans know all about after spending the 2013/14 season with Leeds prior to moving to Fulham.  The forward is the R's top goal-scorer this season, with five goals to his name, despite predominantly featuring from the bench during this campaign.  The man who will be tasked with stopping Smith from adding to his goal tally will be Whites defender Pontus Jansson who has hit top form over recent matches.  The Sweden international netted his first goal of the season for the Whites last time out in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa and also helped Leeds record a clean sheet against Barnsley, whilst was influential in the 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough in November.

 

Betting odds with Ladbrokes

QPR 31/20

Draw 9/4

Leeds United 17/10

 

Live commentary

You can listen to live commentary with Thom Kirwin and Eddie Gray on LUTV.  Build up will begin from 2:00pm.

 

Beamback

All of our allocated tickets for the visit to Loftus Road have now sold out, however you can cheer United on from the Gowing Law Centenary Pavilion or Billy’s Sports Bar, meaning Elland Road is the place to be for those unable to make the Saturday trip to London.

Tickets are priced at just £10 for adults and £5 for juniors under 16* - and ticket prices include a pint or soft drink of your choice on the day.

Food will also be available to purchase and a legend will be in attendance in the Pavilion.


CLICK TO PURCHASE BEAMBACK TICKETS

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