The clash at Loftus Road pits two of the Championship’s top seven against one another.
Ian Holloway
Ian Holloway believes that Newcastle United will continue their winning run when they come up against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Tuesday, Sky Sports reports.
The Magpies go into the game against Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s men having won their last five games in all competitions, including four in the Championship, to put their disappointing start completely behind them.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez
But they face a difficult task trying to extend that run further. The Hoops are seventh in the table after picking up three victories in their opening six games.
Nevertheless, Holloway has backed the away side to edge a tight contest, and has suggested that one of the division’s joint top goalscorers will be the one to break the deadlock.
Newcastle United’s Dwight Gayle
“I’m going to say they’re going to nick it at Loftus Road. It’ll be a very close, tough game but Newcastle are starting to learn how to grind things out,” he told Sky Sports after predicting a 2-1 win for the Magpies.
“I think Dwight Gayle will score first. He’s such a great finisher and is in a team that should create a lot of chances so I think he’ll score a lot of goals this year.”
QPR manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
One thing the game should perhaps promise is goals. Like Gayle, QPR forward Tjaronn Chery has scored four times this season, while only three teams have scored on more occasions than second-place Newcastle.
And while it is still very early in the campaign, Rafael Benitez will be reminding his players that failing to continue their winning run could leave the door for Huddersfield to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points, and could leave the Magpies in danger of falling out of the top six altogether.
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