Neil Critchley takes charge of his first game as QPR manager on Saturday as the Hoops travel to Lancashire to take on Preston North End.
The former Blackpool boss will no doubt have been watching on last weekend as the west London outfit marked their return to Championship action with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at home to Burnley, so a number of changes could be on the cards.
Having topped the table just a couple of months ago, the Hoops now sit ninth after a woeful run of form which has returned just one point and one goal in the last six games, and things could get worse against an in-form Preston side on Saturday.
Here is how Football FanCast expects Critchley to line up his QPR side at Deepdale, with three changes expected from the side which started against Burnley:
Dieng; Laird, Dickie, Clarke-Salter, Paal; Richards, Field, Iroegbunam; Armstrong, Dykes, Willock (4-3-3)
Seny Dieng could do little about any of Burnley’s goals at the weekend as all three were top finishes, so he keeps his place in between the sticks.
After an unfortunate mistake against his former club, Jimmy Dunne drops to the bench, with the “very talented” Rob Dickie – as dubbed by former R’s boss Mark Warburton – replacing him in the heart of the defence, partnering Jake Clarke-Salter.
Ethan Laird and Kenneth Paal will provide the width in defence, although both will need to be much improved if QPR are to earn anything against Ryan Lowe’s side, having posted lowly 6.5 ratings from Sofascore last Sunday.
There is one change in midfield as Andre Dozzell drops to the bench, with Taylor Richards handed a rare start in the hope that he can provide some much-needed creativity in the middle, and he joins Sam Field and Tim Iroegbunam.
The final change sees George Thomas drop to the bench, having been hooked at half-time against Burnley. Sinclair Armstrong could be afforded a start on the right wing in the absence of Ilias Chair, who is still representing Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar.
Top scorers Chris Willock and Lyndon Dykes keep their places in the QPR attack, and the talented duo will no doubt be crucial to breaking down a resolute Preston defence this afternoon.