West Bromwich Albion vs Queens Park Rangers predictions: Bold Baggies to beat receding R's
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- West Brom have won four of their last six home league games with both teams scoring in three of the wins
- QPR have lost five of their last seven Championship games with both teams scoring in three defeats
- Recommended Bet: West Brom to win and both teams to score
West Brom will attempt to return to winning ways when they entertain Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Saturday.
The Baggies dropped to sixth place last weekend when Coventry moved into the top five as Albion were battling for a hard-earned point at table-topping Leeds.
Tony Mowbray's men cannot afford to settle for a draw this week, however, with Bristol City and Blackburn breathing down their necks in the hunt for a play-off place.
Meanwhile, QPR's hopes of making a late run are fading fast after last Saturday's home defeat to Sheffield United made it five losses in their last seven league games.
Team news
Semi Ajayi is still unavailable for West Brom after he picked up an injury in last month's win over Oxford United.
Kyle Bartley should therefore continue alongside Torbjorn Heggem in central defence.
Mowbray's options are limited in attack because of injuries to top scorer Josh Maja (calf), striker Daryl Dike (fitness) and captain Jed Wallace (calf).
As for QPR, midfielder Sam Field faces a battle to be back before the end of season after suffering an ankle injury that is set to rule him out for six to nine weeks.
Jack Colback replaced Field when he went off in the 68th minute of the 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth and the experienced midfielder started the R's subsequent loss to the Blades.
Wingers Paul Smyth and Koki Saito will be hoping for recalls after impressing as substitutes on Saturday while Steve Cook could lose his central defensive spot to Morgan Fox.
The stats
West Brom have taken 19 points from a possible 24 from their last eight home encounters.
Albion have scored exactly two goals in all of their last four home matches against QPR.
The Baggies are unbeaten in five home matches against Rangers, with the Londoners' last win over West Brom in any fixture coming in January 2022.
QPR have hit the woodwork 14 times this season, the joint-most in the Championship alongside Bristol City and Norwich.
West Brom have committed the fewest fouls in the division (298).
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Prediction
Mowbray's return to the Hawthorns has liberated Albion's attacking players and turned the Baggies into a much more watchable side.
But they are more likely to ship a goal than they were under his predecessor Carlos Corberan, which should give Rangers' forwards plenty of hope.
QPR, who have scored in seven of their last 10 Championship away games, have an array of direct wingers and a focal point for crosses in seven-goal striker Michael Frey.
Defensively, they were undone by Sheffield United's pacy and potent forward line last week and they face a similar scenario this weekend when reliable Championship marksman Adam Armstrong leads the Albion line.
The home side have enough quality to grab a couple of goals and ensure that they remain firmly on track for the playoffs.
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