Currently in second place, the Hornets are just a point behind league leaders Reading, having won their last two games before the international break.

Match preview

Andre Gray celebrates with teammates after scoring for Watford against Coventry City in the Championship on November 7, 2020 © Reuters

It was a crazy game at Vicarage Road a fortnight ago as Watford beat Coventry City 3-2, having led and trailed in the match before Ismaila Sarr's 83rd-minute penalty secured the three points.

They had also won 3-2 against Stoke City three days earlier, and the supreme quality in their side is beginning to show as players such as Sarr and Andre Gray get back up to speed.

Despite their high placing in the table, Watford's away form is a potential worry for Vladimir Ivic as his team have only one victory in five games on the road this season – against bottom club Derby County.

The Hornets have just one other win away from home in 2020, and that came against Bournemouth in January.

Queens Park Rangers players celebrate scoring against Nottingham Forest on September 12, 2020 © Reuters

They travel to a QPR side who have lost only once in five home games so far this campaign, against the division's best away outfit Preston North End.

Before the international break Mark Warburton's men lost 3-1 to Blackburn Rovers to drop to 18th in the Championship table.

However points-wise, Rangers are as close to the bottom three as they are to the top six, which will give Warburton hope that anything can still happen as we approach the quarter-point of the season.

Saturday will be the first league encounter between QPR and Watford since April 2014, but they did meet in the FA Cup in 2018-19, when Etienne Capoue's goal on the stroke of half time gave the Hornets a 1-0 win.

Queens Park Rangers Championship form: LDLWWL

Watford Championship form: WDDLWW

Team News

QPR boss Mark Warburton on February 1, 2020 © Reuters

QPR should have Bright Osayi-Samuel back available after he missed the defeat to Blackburn with a groin injury.

Meanwhile George Thomas is back in full training following a thigh problem, but it may be too soon for him to start a league game, with Mark Warburton keen for him to get minutes for the development team first.

A number of Watford's squad – such as Craig Cathcart, William Troost-Ekong and Ismaila Sarr – have been away on international duty and only returned to training on Thursday, but should still feature on Saturday.

Will Hughes has had a setback in his return from injury so will not be involved, but Troy Deeney played in a friendly against the club's Under-23s last weekend as he continues to build up his fitness.

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Kane, Barbet, Dickie, Hamalainen; Cameron, Carroll; Adomah, Chair, Samuel; Dykes

Watford possible starting lineup:
Foster; Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Cathcart; Femenia, Garner, Capoue, Cleverley, Sema; Sarr, Gray

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We say: Queens Park Rangers 0-2 Watford

The Championship summit is in Watford's sights, and that could drive them to earn a rare victory away from home. QPR have only won three times this season and they are likely to struggle against the quality in the Hornets side.

Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Watford win with a probability of 38.04%. A win for Queens Park Rangers had a probability of 35.06% and a draw had a probability of 26.9%.

The most likely scoreline for a Watford win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.42%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.24%) and 0-2 (6.72%). The likeliest Queens Park Rangers win was 1-0 (9.92%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.77%). The actual scoreline of 1-1 was predicted with a 12.8% likelihood.