Queens Park Rangers face a stern test of their away form when they visit Southampton on Saturday 31 October. The Hoops are winless in their past four league games on the road and have lost their last three visits to St Mary's. Their recent form shows no wins, two draws and three defeats from their last five matches, a run that includes losing the last three.
Southampton are sixth in the Championship, three points outside the automatic promotion places. They are unbeaten in their last 16 home league games, a run that includes 12 wins. QPR, level on points but two places back, will need to overcome that formidable record to improve their own position.
The fixture comes after a mixed run for Marti Cifuentes's side. Their last five results read LLLDD, with no wins. This sequence includes a heavy 3-0 defeat at Birmingham City last weekend, where Liam Millar scored twice, followed by a stunning 5-0 home victory over Swansea City on 24 October. Richard Kone scored a first-half hat-trick in that rout, with goals in the 2nd, 9th and 15th minutes, the last from the penalty spot, with Jimmy Dunne adding two late goals in the 45th and 86th minutes.
Southampton's five-game home winning streak was snapped by a goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers in their last outing at St Mary's. However, they have won each of their past six league meetings with QPR. The hosts have also been in winning positions for 43.2% of their Championship matches this season, the highest percentage in the division.
QPR's main threat may come from set pieces, having scored nine goals from such situations this term. That tally is the joint-most in the Championship, alongside West Ham United. The team will hope top scorer Richard Kone, who netted a hat-trick last time out, can continue his form.
Queens Park Rangers have lost four successive away league games only once in their history, between 1957 and 1969. They will aim to avoid matching that unwanted record this weekend. The match at St Mary's kicks off on Saturday, 31 October.
Background and full detail: bbc.co.uk
