MansionBet Match Preview: QPR (H)

In association with City's Principal Partner MansionBet, we take a closer look at the match...

If recent history is anything to go by, City have the form card in their pack as they are unbeaten against the R's in 90 minutes of their last nine fixtures in all competitions.

That's including seven wins since the Hoops last beat City in the Sky Bet Championship in October 2016. They did manage to beat the Robins in the Carabao Cup Third Round of 2019/20 via penalties.

But Nigel Pearson's side are on course for a league double over QPR this time around, after a 2-1 victory at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in early December. Nahki Wells pounced against his former side, while Ádám Nagy scored a goal not long into the second half with both goals as a result of the creative Callum O'Dowda.

City know their results and form which followed was patchy, and a poor run of defeats soon led to a change at the helm.

But there has been flair and character on show in the last few games, with City beating Middlesbrough and Swansea on the road prior to a 2-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday night.

Certainly the performance didn't warrant the result but it was an overall good display against a former Premier League side challenging for the play-offs and there were positives - as well as mistakes - to dive into afterwards.

Unfortunately the result means City are still be chasing a first home win since January and deny Pearson three points in his first game in charge in the Ashton Gate dugout. But Saturday is another opportunity against a QPR which has suffered back-to-back losses (2-1 v Birmingham; 3-1 v Barnsley) heading into this latest fixture.

Highlights: Bristol City v Bournemouth

The Hoops look to have been on a slippery slope with just four wins in the Championship prior to the turn of the year. That included stretches of seven and nine games without victory, however six wins from seven matches in 2021 have helped them go eight points clear of the drop at the time of writing.

The West London side are averaging 11 shots per game in the Championship, averaging a goal a game too according to Opta data, so City's defence will need to be razor sharp once more.

Up front the goals have been shared by Charlie Austin and Lyndon Dykes, though the latter has only scored one goal from open play and four from the penalty spot. QPR manager Mark Warburton believes the striker to be letting social media comments affect his mentality.

In defence, the Hoops could call upon Jordy de Wijs. He is expected to travel with the squad as he seeks his QPR debut after being hampered by a calf injury.

As for City, Pearson has ruled Jamie Paterson (groin) out of this weekend's action, while Nathan Baker, Callum O'Dowda, Marley Watkins and Liam Walsh are looking at minutes with the Under-23s next week, as the quartet return to fitness.

MATCH DETAILS 

Where: Ashton Gate Stadium
When: Saturday, March 6th, 3pm KO
Competition: Sky Bet Championship

Referee: Tony Harrington
Assistants: Wade Smith and Daniel Leach
Fourth official: Keith Stroud