Queens Park Rangers will be looking to build on their rich vein of form when they travel to Lancashire to face mid-table strugglers Preston North End at Deepdale.
Mark Warburton’s side have won six of their last seven matches in the Championship, including taking the impressive scalp of AFC Bournemouth at the weekend, as well as fellow promotion-chasers Brentford, Blackburn Rovers, and Watford.
The Hoops struggled until the second half of their last game, when a triple change inspired them to victory, so the long-serving 58-year-old has plenty to ponder ahead of kick-off tonight.
So, what sort of XI could we see named this evening? Here’s what we are predicting…
There could be as many as four changes from the side that conquered the Cherries 2-1 on Saturday.
Starting in attack, Lyndon Dykes’ poor form continued – the 25-year-old is now goalless since late November – so an opportunity may be handed to Macauley Bonne to partner the on-loan Charlie Austin.
Whilst Chris Willock’s influence from the bench at Loftus Road has surely earned him a start over Ilias Chair in attacking midfield. According to West London Sport, he ‘never got going,’ so he may be most at risk here with the 23-year-old Benfica man hot on his heels.
We may also see fellow West Brom loanee Sam Field start for the first time since joining in January, he’ll replace Stefan Johansen in the engine room as the 30-year-old Danish midfielder earns a rest.
Field should partner Dominic Ball in the middle, accompanied by two wing-backs, where we could find the final change as Niko Hamalainen comes in for Lee Wallace on the left.
Todd Kane, the match-winner at the weekend, should continue on the other flank, whilst the back three of Yohann Barbet, Geoff Cameron and Rob Dickie in front of Seny Diang between the sticks should remain unchanged.
