Queens Park Rangers continue their battle against the drop when they face off against West Ham United at Loftus Road.

The R's are two points adrift of safety and desperately need to close the gap to their rivals, with time fast running out to save themselves from relegation.

QPR

It has been two weeks since Chris Ramsey's men were last in action when they sustained a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Chelsea, which could have major consequences for them come the end of the season.

The R's dropped points for the second time in a week as they were unable to hold on to all three points in their clash against Aston Villa, which would have pulled the Hoops closer to safety.

However, it was not to be and Ramsey's men now face an uphill task following Leicester City's upsurge in form to avoid relegation back to the Championship.

QPR looked to have given themselves a real boost when they defeated West Bromwich Albion three weeks ago in a convincing 4-1 victory at The Hawthorns. However, results from the teams around them prevented the win from having a major effect on their league position.

Their defeat to Chelsea was the first game the R's had gone without scoring in the Premier League in eight matches, and it will be pleasing for Ramsey to know that his side can perform at one end of the pitch.

The form of striker Charlie Austin has been crucial to the club's survival hopes as he has netted 17 goals in the top flight this season, including four goals in his last eight matches. The 25-year-old has caught the eye of several teams around the division in the campaign, meaning that his future could rest on whether the R's are able to beat the drop.

Ramsey's side's main problem has been conceding goals as they have the worst defensive record in the Premier League, conceding 59 goals in their 33 matches this season. The club have also failed to keep a clean sheet since the beginning of February, a run that has stretched for eight matches.

QPR's home form kept them in touch with their rivals at the start of the season, but since the turn of the year the club have failed to record a victory at Loftus Road. Ramsey's men have two matches left at home this season, and anything other than six points may not be good enough to keep them in the division.

Recent form: LLLWDL

West Ham

West Ham were on course to challenge for a place in Europe in December when they sat in fourth place in the Premier League.

The goals of Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia were helping Sam Allardyce bring the attractive football he had promised to the club's supporters, along with positive results to alleviate the pressure on the 60-year-old.

However, since the turn of the year the club have recorded just two wins in the top flight which has seen them slide down the table all the way into 10th place, leaving Allardyce's future under scrutiny.

The Hammers have been linked with several managers to replace Allardyce, who it appears could be paying the price for his side's mediocrity and their lack of success in the cup competitions.

West Ham are ending the season with a whimper since the team have won just once in their 11 matches, a run that has included six defeats.

Allardyce's men have struggled for creativity in the final third of the pitch, while the goals that Sakho and Valencia supplied earlier in the campaign have dried out. The club have struggled to get any strikes from their midfield, especially in the second half of the season.

The Hammers have also struggled to keep the goals out for the majority of the season as only Crystal Palace, Leicester City and QPR have kept fewer clean sheets than Allardyce's men, while the team have staged just three shutouts in 2015.

West Ham travel to Loftus Road without a win on the road since December 2, when they defeated West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. Meanwhile, they have also lost their last three matches on the spin away from Upton Park.

Recent form: LLWLDL

Team News

Leroy Fer could return for QPR from a knee injury against the Hammers after he made a successful return to training this week.

The 25-year-old has been out since February, but Ramsey is ready to put him straight back into his side for their crunch match.

Armand Traore is facing a fitness test ahead of the game as he is struggling with a calf injury, while Yun Suk-young is also a doubt after sustaining a concussion.

West Ham will continue to be without James Tomkins and Andy Carroll for the match at Loftus Road as both players have long-term injuries.

Sakho is a doubt for the match after he pulled his quadriceps in his side's 1-1 draw against Stoke City, while Guy Demel is out of the clash with a calf strain.

QPR possible starting lineup:
Green; Isla, Onuoha, Caulker, Hill, Phillips, Sandro, Barton, Fer, Austin, Zamora

West Ham possible starting lineup:
Adrian, Jenkinson, Cresswell, Kouyate, Reid, Downing, Noble, Collins, Cole, Song, Valencia

Head To Head

The Hammers recorded a 2-0 victory in the match between the teams earlier this season as an own goal from Nedum Onuoha and a strike from Sakho were enough to hand Allardyce's men the three points.

In their last meeting at Loftus Road, West Ham took all three points from the fixture when Matt Jarvis and Ricardo Vaz Te got on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory.

Over the course of history, West Ham have edged the fixture by claiming 22 wins compared to QPR's 19, while 19 matches have ended in draws.

We say: QPR 2-0 West Ham

Ramsey's men are in desperate need of the three points and have shown promise in their attacking play in recent weeks. Their problem has been keeping goals out, so the visit of the goal-shy Hammers could be just what they need in their survival battle to claim the three points.