Queens Park Rangers vs Cardiff City Match Analysis and Prediction

Queens Park Rangers will be looking for a win than could be enough to move them nto the automatic promotion spots in the Championship standings when they host Cardiff City on Wednesday.

Like their hosts, Cardiff saw their unbeaten run come to an end on Saturday, leaving them in 18th place as they continue to contemplate their long-term direction in the dugout.

Having given Michael Beale his first senior role in the dugout in the summer, the QPR hierarchy would not have been expected to be preparing themselves for interest from Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers after just 14 matches in the Championship.

However, the admiration from elsewhere highlights they job that Beale is doing at Loftud Road, even if QPR suffered a 3-1 defeat to Luton Town on Saturday.

Despite the setback, QPR still sit fourth in the table with just one point behind leaders Burnley, and though they have been far from prefect, they have found a way to grind out results with five of their seven victories coming by a one-goal margin.

Cardiff City were also seemingly on a solid upward trajectory under caretaker manager Mark Hudson until they suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to bottom-placed Coventry City.

Given the unpredictable nature of the Championship, it should have come as too much of a surprise, but Cardiff had previously picked up seven points from three matches since sacking Steve Morison.

Still five points clear of the relegation zone, the Bluebirds’ hierarchy may feel that they do not need to be in any rush to make a firm decision over the next permanent manager.

However, with the trip to QPR coming before the all-Welsh showdown with Swansea City at the weekend, Hudson can ill-afford a second successive defeat if he wants to realistically remain in his current role on a full-time basis.

Queens Park Rangers vs Cardiff City head to head

These two teams have previously met on 31 occasions across two competitions, where QPR have claimed 16 victories while Cardiff have won nine and they have drawn in six. Cardiff have scored 32 goals and conceded 38. In their last five meetings, Cardiff have won one while QPR have won four.

Queens Park Rangers 6-1 Cardiff City 01/01/20

Queens Park Rangers 3-2 Cardiff City 31/10/20

Cardiff City 0-1 Queens Park Rangers 20/01/21

Cardiff City 0-1 Queens Park Rangers 03/11/21

Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Cardiff City 05/03/22

Queens Park Rangers latest home form

QPR have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, as they have been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. They managed to defeat Reading 2-1 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded four.

Queens Park Rangers 0-1 Blackpool 16/08/22

Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Rotherham United 20/08/22

Queens Park Rangers 3-1 Hull City 30/08/22

Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Stoke City 17/09/22

Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Reading 07/10/22

Queens Park Rangers latest away form

QPR were beaten 3-1 by Luton Town in their last away game in the league. However, they have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having won each of their previous three games. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded five.

Swansea City 1-0 Queens Park Rangers 03/09/22

Millwall 0-2 Queens Park Rangers 14/09/22

Bristol City 1-2 Queens Park Rangers 01/10/22

Sheffield United 0-1 Queens Park Rangers 04/10/22

Luton Town 3-1 Queens Park Rangers 15/10/22

Cardiff City latest home form

Cardiff City have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their five most recent matches. They lost 1-0 to Coventry City in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded four.

Cardiff City 0-0 Preston North End 27/08/22

Cardiff City 1-2 Luton Town 30/08/22

Cardiff City 1-1 Burnley 01/10/22

Cardiff City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers 04/10/22

Cardiff City 0-1 Coventry City 15/10/22

Cardiff City latest away form

Cardiff City have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their seven most recent matches. They defeated Wigan Athletic 3-1 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded eight.

Bristol City 2-0 Cardiff City 21/08/22

Millwall 2-0 Cardiff City 03/09/22

Middlesbrough 2-3 Cardiff City 13/09/22

Huddersfield Town 1-0 Cardiff City 17/09/22

Wigan Athletic 1-3 Cardiff City 08/10/22

Queens Park Rangers news

Should Leon Balogun fail to shake off a knock sustained against Luton, then Ethan Laird shoudl return at right-back after resting a hamstirng injury at the weekend.

Stefan Johansen is likely to be restored in central midfield on Wednesday, with Sam Field or Luke Amos potentially dropping out of the side.

Cardiff City news

Hudson is likely to freshen his Cardiff XI with Jadon Philogene-Bidace and Sheyi Ojo both pushing for opportunities in creative roles.

Romaine Sawyers is also in line to return in midfield ahead of Andy Rinomhota, while Kion Etete is closing in on being given a chance down the centre of the attack.

Prediction and Odds

Given the uncertainty at both teams in one way or another, we expect any possible result to come as either side are looking to quickly bounce back to winning ways.

However, we can only back QPR to continue their form in front of their own fans, potentially edging this game by a narrow victory.

Odds: 1 1.89 X 2.05 2 2.88

Probable outcomes

Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Cardiff City

Queens Park Rangers 2-0 Cardiff City

Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Cardiff City

Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Cardiff City

Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Cardiff City