QPR welcome Preston to Loftus Road having found their form in front of goal

Former PNE loanee Alex Baptiste is now with QPR

Their last six games have produced 26 goals, with QPR netting 11 of those.

So a rather open contest could be anticipated when Preston head to Loftus Road tomorrow.

Ian Hollway’s side have scored four times in their last two home games, beating Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 in midweek to follow up the 4-1 win over Norwich on Easter Monday.

In between was a 4-0 loss at Hull, while three earlier away trips saw them win 3-1 at Aston Villa, draw 2-2 in their London derby with Fulham and lose 1-0 at Reading.

A real mixed bag then, that perhaps the reason for QPR’s mid-table position.

Preston were 1-0 winners over the West London side in the reverse game at Deepdale on December 2.

Jordan Hugill netted in the 88th minute, the game seeing two red cards for QPR.

Jamie Mackie walked in the 22nd minute for a lunge on PNE skipper Tom Clarke.

After the final whistle, Alex Baptiste saw red for a word out of turn to the referee.

That marked an unhappy return for Baptiste, having spent last season on loan at PNE from Middlesbrough.

The defender joined QPR on a free transfer last summer after interest from North End in a full-time move dwindled.

Ahead of the visit to the capital, Preston boss Alex Neil said: “I think QPR are like the division in that they are capable of turning up any result.

“They were 4-0 up in their last game on Tuesday night.

“I actually thought they were the better team for the first 20 minutes at our place until they had the player sent off.

“Thankfully after that, we became the best team and won the game – deservedly so.

“QPR are mobile and it will be a tough game, certainly down there.”

The mobility which Neil talked about helped QPR to beat Wednesday.

They were 3-0 up inside the first 15 minutes and notched a fourth early in the second half.

Two Owls goals in the last half-hour gave the scoreline a touch more respectability.

Idrissa Sylla scored twice, Paul Smyth and Jake Bidwell netting the other two.

QPR boss Holloway said: “We made brave decisions and the players that came in made a real positive start to the game.

“We flew out of the blocks and it was a sensational start.

“We’ve got to 53 points which is what we got last year.

“Now we’ve got 12 more points to play for and we want to get all 12.

“We want to finish with a flourish.”

Sylla’s double in midweek marked his return to QPR’s starting XI after a long spell on the sidelines.

Injury kept him out from the end of December through to the start of April.

The Guinea international had come off the bench twice before Holloway gave him the chance to lead the attack on Tuesday night.

Syalla’s two goals took his tally for the campaign to six.