Championship | Gameweek 24

Dec 29, 2024 at 12.30pm UK

Carrow Road

Norwich vs QPR

Match preview

The Canaries deserved their win over Millwall as they created four good chances without creating any of their own.

Boss Johannes Hoff Thorup was delighted with the performance but still said there was room for improvement, saying: "The thing that impressed me most was the way we dominated the match from minute one. We have had a tough run but the players were really on it straight away.

"We scored early, created chances and just importantly we were really solid at the back, never giving them any chances themselves. Our defensive base needs to be more solid, we have seen that in recent games, and today it was much better."

Thorup's side have kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 matches and have conceded ten times in their last six games, scoring nine times in that period.

Norwich's form in recent weeks has been poor as they have lost three, drawn one and won just one of their last five games.

The hosts have a positive record at Carrow Road, having won three of their last four home games.

Last time out, QPR conceded three first-half goals between the 12th and 33rd minutes and were, in truth, dominated as Swansea failed to register a single shot on target.

Manager Marti Cifuentes tried to look forward rather than dwell on the defeat, telling reporters after the game: "It's better to lose one game 3-0 than three 1-0. Hopefully we can learn from that. It is about mentality. You can win, you can lose, the most important thing is the next game. We have to learn from this one.

Cifuentes signed a new long-term contract with the club at the end of September, but his side lost five and drew four of the nine games following the announcement of his extension.

However, QPR's defeat at Swansea was their first in their last eight games, having won four of their previous six.

The visitors' away form has not been as good as their overall form in recent weeks, with four draws, four losses and just one win in their last nine away games.

Recent Performance

Norwich City Championship form:WLDLLW

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:DWWDWL

Team News

Norwich have three injury absentees, although midfielders Gabriel Forsyth and Liam Gibbs and striker Joshua Sargent are not expected to be out until January.

Anis Ben Slimane, Marcelino Nunez and Emiliano Marcondes started against Millwall and could retain their places in a three-man midfield.

Striker Ante Crnac is likely to start in Sargent's absence and could be flanked by wide men Oscar Schwartau and Borja Sainz.

As for QPR, midfielder Karamoko Dembele has been ruled out until March, so Sam Field and Jonathan Varane could play in a double pivot.

Winger Paul Smyth and striker Zan Celar could both return from injury in January, but with both unavailable for Sunday's game, Cifuentes is likely to start Lucas Andersen, Kieran Morgan and Koki Saito behind striker Rayan Kolli.

Centre-backs Morgan Fox and Liam Morrison are almost certain to start with Steve Cook not expected to return from a foot injury until February.

Possible starting lineup

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Gunn; Fisher, Duffy, Doyle, Chrisene; Slimane, Nunez, Marcondes; Schwartau, Crnac, Sainz

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Nardi; Dunne, Fox, Morrison, Paal; Field, Varane; Andersen, Morgan, Saito; Kolli