Watford will kick off the new year with a short trip to Loftus Road for Wednesday's Championship clash with Queens Park Rangers.

Match preview

QPR begin 2025 with a six-point buffer to the relegation zone after winning five, drawing 11 and losing eight of their 24 league matches.

The R's enjoyed an impressive run of form before Christmas, winning four and drawing three of their seven matches in a promising undefeated streak.

However, their fine spell of form was abruptly ended by a heavy 3-0 away defeat against Swansea City on Boxing Day.

QPR looked set to bounce back with a win when they took the lead in Sunday's away clash with Norwich City, courtesy of an Ante Crnac own goal in first-half stoppage time.

As it proved, the R's were unable to hold on to their advantage, conceding in the 89th minute to draw 1-1 at Carrow Road, extending their winless away run to four matches.

Marti Cifuentes's side will be looking forward to returning to the familiar surroundings of Loftus Road, where they have won each of their previous three league games.

Watford may be sitting outside the playoffs on goal difference, but they have struggled for consistency in recent times, having won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six matches.

Unfortunately for the Hornets, those two victories took place in their final three matches of 2024, losing 2-1 to Burnley and Cardiff on either side of a narrow home win against Portsmouth.

Rocco Vata netted a late winner against Pompey to extend Watford's unbeaten home run to 15 Championship matches.

However, that impressive streak was ended by Cardiff's Callum Robinson, who netted a brace to condemn Watford to a narrow 2-1 defeat in Sunday's clash at Vicarage Road.

After losing a home league game for the first time since March, Watford will have to quickly pick themselves up for Wednesday's trip to Loftus Road, with the visitors looking to end a four-game winless away run.

The Hornets will be hoping for a repeat of the 2-1 win that they recorded in their most recent away match against QPR last January.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Nardi; Ashby, Dunne, Fox, Paal; Field, Varane; Smyth, Morgan, Chair; Kolli

Watford possible starting lineup:

Bachmann; Porteous, Sierralta, Pollock; Ngakia, Sissoko, Kayembe, Larouci; Baah, Chakvetadze, Bayo