QPR v Wigan preview
Thursday 23 August 2018 17:39, UK
Tomer Hemed and Nahki Wells will be added to the QPR squad for the visit of Wigan.
Strikers Hemed and Wells have arrived on season-long loan deals from Brighton and Burnley respectively. And both strikers are available to make immediate debuts against Paul Cook's side.
Darnell Furlong is still out injured for QPR, who are floundering at the foot of the Championship after four straight defeats.
Wigan midfielder Darron Gibson is still absent with a groin injury. But the Latics are hopeful the former Manchester United player will be fit in the coming weeks.
Defender Dan Burn and striker Joe Garner also remain on the sidelines. Wigan could therefore be unchanged having won 3-0 at Stoke in midweek.
Opta stats
Including play-off meetings, QPR are unbeaten in nine league matches against Wigan (W5 D4), since a 2-0 defeat in August 2011.
Wigan's last victory over QPR at Loftus Road came in March 2003, winning 1-0 courtesy of a Nathan Ellington goal.
QPR manager Steve McClaren has won just one of his last 13 Championship matches as manager (W1 D3 L9), a 2-1 win against Barnsley as Derby manager in March 2017.
Steve McClaren and Paul Cook have faced just once previously, with McClaren's Derby winning 2-0 against Chesterfield in the FA Cup in January 2015.
QPR have lost their first four league matches in a season for the first time and conceded 13 goals - after four Championship matches last season, they'd conceded just four times.
Wigan midfielder Nick Powell has scored three goals and assisted three goals in just four league appearances this season, averaging a goal or assist every 49 minutes.
Prutton's prediction
It's already starting to look very ominous for Steve McClaren at QPR. Their first two games of the season were narrow defeats but the way they capitulated against West Brom and Bristol City would have set alarm bells ringing.
Wigan were nothing short of superb against Stoke on Wednesday night, and it's not a result many would have predicted before the start of the game. They'll be riding high after that and the form book would suggest they'll claim all three points at Loftus Road.
David Prutton predicts: 0-2 (10/1 with Sky Bet)
