QPR are currently in 18th place and come into this fixture off the back of defeat, losing 3-1 to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park courtesy of a Ben Brereton strike and a brace from the Championship's leading goal scorer, Adam Armstrong. Lyndon Dykes also netted from the penalty spot, his third Championship goal for the Hoops since joining from Livingston in the summer. 

Watford sit in second place and are enjoying life in the Championship, winning their last game against a struggling Coventry City 3-2 at Vicarage Road with Andre Gray, William Troost-Ekong and Ismalia Sarr scoring for the Hornets

Team news

QPR may see Bright Osayi-Samuel return to action after he missed the defeat against Blackburn with a groin injury.

George Thomas is back in full training following a thigh problem, but will not be playing on Saturday with Mark Warburton keen for Thomas to get minutes for the development team first.

Craig Cathcart, William Troost-Ekong and Ismaila Sarr have been away from Watford on international duty, returning to training on Thursday but should be able to feature on Saturday.

Troy Deeney played in a friendly last weekend as he continues to build his fitness up, but Will Hughes endured a setback in his return from injury.

Predicted lineups

QPR

Dieng; Kane, Barbet, Dickie, Hamalainen, Cameron, Carroll, Adomah, Chair, Osayi-Samuel, Dykes.

 

Watford

Foster; Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Cathcart, Femenia, Garner, Capoue, Cleverley, Sema, Sarr, Gray.

Ones to watch

QPR: Lyndon Dykes

Dykes comes into this fixture returning from international duty, where he helped Scotland reach their first major international tournament in 23 years. Dykes was named in the starting eleven for the crucial game against Serbia las week and will be full of confidence heading into this game, looking to cause problems against a Watford side who have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last six Championship games. 

Watford: Étienne Capoue

Capoue has recorded the most interceptions per game in English football this season, a crucial part of Watford's star studded midfield. The Frenchman has looked a class above for the Hornets this season and will play a major part if Watford grab all the points at Loftus Road. Watford have only won once in their last five away fixtures in the Championship, and Vladimir Ivić will be looking for players like Capoue to make the difference on Saturday.

 

Previous meetings

Saturday will be the first league meeting between QPR and Watford since April 2014, but they did meet in the FA Cup in 2018-19, when  Étienne Capoue's goal gave the Hornets a 1-0 win.

How to watch

The game will be available to watch at 3pm on Saturday with a match pass available to purchase on each team's iFollow accounts for £10 respectively. 

What the managers have said

These two sides have endured contrasting starts to the season, with Watford pushing towards top spot whilst QPR will be looking to widen the gap between themselves and the relegation zone. 

QPR boss Mark Warbuton spoke highly about Saturday's opponents, stating ''They obviously have a very strong squad coming down from the Premier League last season which can be hard to deal with, but they have responded very well and we are a good team ourselves so we have to prepare well, respect Watford and understand their strengths in order to win. 

''What's important is that we go in the game with belief and the right mindset that we can stop our opponents and deliver on the day.''

Watford head coach, Vladimir Ivić spoke on the team morale that has boosted Watford up the table, explaining ''It's very important to have a healthy dressing room. By that I mean the players need to respect each other and the rules of the team. Without that they cannot succeed.

''No-one asks them something strange or something they don't know. They know very well what we want and what we are asking for.

''The team is the most important thing in a football club and all of us need to respect the team, the rules of the team and like that we can succeed.''

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