It has been a few weeks to forget for Preston North End. They have lost four of their last five league games, with the one win coming away to Blackburn Rovers.

Queens Park Rangers have been living in dreamland recently, as they go into the game against Preston, on a four-game win streak, beating three sides from the top six, which are Watford, Brentford, and Bournemouth.

The Lilywhites are seriously struggling at home this season, they sit 22nd in the home form table, only winning four games from a possible 15. Their last win at Deepdale came against Coventry in a 2-0 victory on the 29th of December. Since then, they have lost three and drawn one at home, only scoring one goal in the 2-1 loss to Rotherham.

The Rs started the season poorly away from home, now they will look to push on from a six-game unbeaten streak. It was at the John Smith’s Stadium, in a 2-0 loss to Huddersfield Town the last time Rangers lost away.

Team news

 

Alex Neil’s decision to go with three at the back against Cardiff City on Saturday did not pay off, with the Lilywhites being hammered 4-0. 

After their dreadful performance at the Cardiff City Stadium, Neil may look to make some changes to his side, with Scott Sinclair likely to be recalled and Everton Loanee Anthony Gordon may start.

Ryan Ledson and Sean Maguire remain doubtful for Preston.

As for the visitors, it is unsure whether manager Mark Warburton will be looking to make changes to his side who are on blistering form at the minute. 

With the game being in midweek, Warburton may look to put other options on the field, with Chris Willock, Sam Field and Macauley Bonne coming off the bench last game out against Bournemouth.

Rangers are still without Luke Amos and Tom Carroll for the trip to Lancashire.

Predicted lineups

 

Preston XI:

Iversen; Browne, Lindsay, Storey, Cunningham; Whiteman, Molumby, Sinclair, Johnson, Gordon, Evans.

QPR XI:

Dieng; Barbet, Dickie, Cameron, Kane, Johansen, Ball, Wallace, Chair, Willock, Austin.

Ones to watch

Ched Evans - Preston


Lilywhites’ new striker Ched Evans will be desperate to find his second goal since joining the club in January from Fleetwood Town

If Evans start’s against QPR, it will be his fifth consecutive start. The Welsh forward has only found the scoresheet once in his four starts, this also came in the 2-1 loss to Rotherham.

The Welshman is known for scoring goals, and when he eventually gets going for Preston, he could be a serious threat and the Lilywhites will have the man they need to get them back up the table.

Charlie Austin - QPR

The new January signing for Rangers will also be the man to watch on Wednesday night. Charlie Austin re-joined QPR in the winter window because he was struggling for game-time at Premier League side West Bromwich Albion

Austin returns to the Rs after being a massive hit at the club the first time around, where he spent three seasons from 2013-2016. 

He failed to score in his first five games the first time around at QPR, this time it only took 39 minutes. On his debut vs Luton Town, he scored the first goal of the game, as Rangers went on to win the game 2-0. He’s made seven starts since joining and scored three goals. His two other goals came in big wins against Watford and Brentford.

The strikers will be on show on Wednesday night, and it will be a case of who comes out on top, with Austin looking like the better signing so far with the way both players have started.

Previous meetings

In the reverse fixture this season, the Lilywhites came out on top, with a 2-0 victory over Rangers. Daniel Johnson and Scott Sinclair both scored penalties to come away with all three points.

Since QPR’s relegation back to the Championship in 2015, these two sides have faced each other 11 times, Preston has come away winners on seven occasions, QPR only winning twice, which was when they did the double over the Lilywhites last season. 

The two sides sit on the same points in the table this season, Rangers are ahead on goal difference, as well as two games in-hand on the Lilywhites.

How to watch

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Football to Sky customers. You can also watch the match by purchasing an iFollow match pass from either club's website. The game kicks off at 7:45 pm.

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