The two London-based teams in the Championship will lock horns on Saturday afternoon when Queens Park Rangers play host to Millwall at Loftus Road.

While the R's are seeking to avoid a fifth straight home match without a win, the Lions are looking to claim back-to-back away victories for the first time this season.

Match preview

Claiming maximum points has been hard to come by for QPR in recent months, as they have won only one of their last 14 Championship matches.

Neil Critchley has not seen his side prevail since his first game in charge when they beat Preston North End 1-0 away from home on December 17, and the R's have subsequently plummeted to 13th in the table.

However, only five points separate QPR from the playoff positions and there are still 16 games remaining this season, so all hope is not lost just yet for Critchley and co.

QPR, who were held to a 1-1 draw away at Huddersfield Town last weekend, have drawn their last two home games by the same scoreline against Sheffield United and Swansea City, and they also drew 1-1 in their last home meeting with Millwall in February 2022.

While a victory is high on the agenda, the R's will at least be confident of avoiding defeat on Saturday as they are unbeaten in their last 10 home encounters against Millwall.

Millwall have experienced a mixed set of results since the turn of the year, winning two, losing two and drawing one of their last five games in all competitions.

After securing a narrow 1-0 away win at Cardiff City, the Lions were forced to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw on home soil against Sunderland last weekend after an 81st-minute equaliser from Dennis Cirkin cancelled out Jake Cooper's opener.

Nevertheless, Gary Rowett's men remain in contention for a top-six finish as they currently sit eighth in the Championship standings, just one point behind West Bromwich Albion in sixth and five points behind Middlesbrough in third.

Millwall travel to Loftus Road on Saturday having alternated between victory and defeat in their last five league matches, having previously won only one of their first nine games on the road this term.

Victory for the Lions this weekend would be their first away at QPR since February 1989 when they secured a 2-1 win in the top flight courtesy of goals from Jimmy Carter and Tony Cascarino.

Team News

QPR striker Lyndon Dykes has missed the last two games after being diagnosed with pneumonia and there is currently no timeframe on his return, while Leon Balogun remains sidelined with a knee injury.

The R's completed the signing of free agent Chris Martin on Monday following his release from Bristol City and the striker will be available to make his debut this weekend.

Centre-back Robert Dickie will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI ahead of Jake Clarke-Salter, while joint-top scorer Chris Willock – who has six goals to his name along with Dykes – is set to continue on the left flank.

As for Millwall, Mason Bennett was stretcheredd off in the draw with Sunderland after sustaining an ankle injury and the forward is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, while Shaun Hutchinson (groin) and Tyler Burey (hip) are both ruled out until March.

January signing Duncan Watmore made his debut as a second-half substitute last weekend and the attacker could replace the injured Bennett to make his full debut against QPR.

Zian Flemming, who has scored 10 Championship goals so far this season, is set to continue his supporting role in attack for Tom Bradshaw, while Billy Mitchell and George Saville are expected to retain their places in centre-midfield.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Laird, Dickie, Dunne, Paal; Dozzell, Johansen, Field; Chair, Lowe, Willock

Millwall possible starting lineup:
Long; McNamara, Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace; Mitchell, Saville; Honeyman, Flemming, Watmore; Bradshaw

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Millwall

Both teams will be keen to claim all three points on Saturday as they bid to boost their chances of securing a Championship playoff spot.

A tight affair is to be expected at Loftus Road, but we feel that Millwall will just edge it to pick up their first away win against QPR for 34 years.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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