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This Saturday, Luton Town take on QPR at a packed-out Kenilworth Road in the early kick off!
The Hatters will have to bring their A-game as the R's have won six out of their last eight league games, only picking up one defeat along the way. Having said that, Luton have only lost one fixture in their last nine games, but have recorded four draws alongside that.
With both teams in decent form heading into the clash, the Hoops sit third in the Championship table, outside of the automatic places on just goal difference, whereas, the Hatters occupy tenth position, just three points from a playoff spot. The R's most recent victory came in a home tie against fifth-place Reading, after going a goal down to an Andy Carroll penalty, Lyndon Dykes' brace ensured all three points for this weekend's opponents. The Hatters will hope to get back on track after two draws in their previous fixtures to West Brom and Huddersfield Town.
Michael Beale, who was appointed in the summer, has certainly got off to a fine start with his QPR side. The former Aston Villa and Rangers assistant manager has taken up his first senior management role with the R's and made a summer of free signings to get off to a flying start. Bringing in seven players, four being loans, he accumulated a total net spend of £0 on transfers, whilst still being able to bring in talent like Ethan Laird, Tim Iroegnunam and Jake Clarke- Salter. The Hoops currently have the joint first most victories in the league and have taken twenty-four points from thirteen games, so Luton will have to dig deep to get anything from this game.
Regarding head-to-head statistics, QPR have defeated Luton five times in their last six meetings and haven't lost against the Hatters since January 2007 in the FA Cup. The most recent tie ended in a 2-1 win for the R's, playing on home soil, the Hatters took the lead in the first half through Cameron Jerome. However, in the second half, QPR equalised just ten minutes after the restart from the spot kick- the goal coming from ex-Hatter Andre Gray. The reception Gray received was not a welcome one. Since leaving the Hatters in 2014, Gray has gone on to have stints at both Watford and QPR, whom are both rivals of Luton Town, but lately, his career path has led him abroad to Greece. The reverse fixture last season saw Luton defeated by QPR in a two-nil loss.
With Gabe Osho and Reece Burke still expected to be unfit for the game at the weekend, Sonny Bradley will likely lead the back line again after keeping a clean sheet against WBA. Top goal scorer Carlton Morris will hope to get on the scoresheet again, however, could risk suspension at a further date after already picking up four bookings in recent fixtures.
Jones will also be without Cauley Woodrow, with the Luton boss revealing that the summer signing will likely be out for a few weeks with a calf injury he has picked up in training whilst in conversation with Luton Today.
Score Prediction: Luton 0-1 QPR
Unfortunately, with their recent form and strong momentum, this is one that could again go in the Hoops' favour.