QPR vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Team News, Preview, Live Stream & TV Info

Tottenham got a crucial victory in their last Premier League fixture, at home to Swansea City. 

Now they travel to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers in a match that is vital to both sides' Premier League ambitions. QPR remain in the bottom three, though this match constitutes a game-in-hand against their relegation rivals and victory would lift them above Aston Villa. 

Spurs, whose goals are somewhat loftier, would jump Southampton into sixth with a victory and be once more within striking distance of the elusive Champions League places. 

Rangers are 17th in the form table and haven't won at home since Charlie Austin's hat-trick against West Brom in December. Spurs have won four of their last six in the league, but the win over Swansea broke a worrying run without victory in all competitions. 

Both sides need three points here, and former Spurs coaches Chris Ramsey and Kevin Bond will be plotting the downfall of their old club.

The reunions won't just come on the sidelines, though, as Sandro, Niko Kranjcar, Jermaine Jenas, Adel Taarabt, Bobby Zamora and Steven Caulker all previously played for the Lilywhites. 

Taarabt won't feature due to injury, but Rangers do welcome back Nedum Onuoha, Mauricio Isla and Darnell Furlong pending a late fitness test. 

In the reverse fixture, Spurs put on a show and romped to a 4-0 win over QPR. 

Live Stream & TV Info

UK: Not broadcast live, highlights on Match of the Day (BBC1 10 p.m.)

USA: NBC 10 a.m. EST

Form   

Lost	2-1	vs. Arsenal
Lost	2-1	vs. Hull
Won	2-0	vs. Sunderland
Lost	1-0	vs. Southampton

Won	3-2	vs. Swansea
Drew	2-2	vs. West Ham
Lost	2-3	vs. Liverpool
Won	2-1	vs. Arsenal

Predicted Formations

BleacherReport.co.uk

Player to Watch

Charlie Austin has been QPR's main man for almost two years now, and it will be no different when Spurs come calling. The prolific striker has scored in his last two matches to bring his season tally to 15 and will be a major threat to Spurs' consistently error-prone defence.

Austin has shown himself to be an excellent finisher, and if Spurs continue their distressing habit of gifting chances to opposition forwards, the Englishman will surely punish them. Dutch midfielder Leroy Fer is their next leading scorer so Austin is the key man against Spurs.

Tottenham's disappointing run in some big recent matches has included defensive errors reminiscent of last season. Jan Vertonghen has been at the heart of some of these mistakes, and in his role as Spurs' senior defender, he must improve if they are to stop giving away goals.

Against QPR, Vertonghen will be required to contribute in both an attacking and defensive sense, but his main role continues to be as a defender. He must lead by example to see Spurs through this tricky London derby.

 

Key Battle 

QPR will almost certainly cede the majority of possession to Spurs in this one so the match will be decided by the visitors' ability to penetrate a packed defence.

As Chelsea showed in the League Cup final, this is something of a weakness in this blossoming Spurs team.

Spurs have creative talent that is the envy of teams like QPR but they must get tangible rewards for the dominance that they will create. Against Fiorentina at home and away, Spurs failed to take full advantage and were bundled out of Europe. The same could happen at Loftus Road.

If Tottenham can start well and score early, it will likely be a long day for the home side, but frustration could bring Spurs undone and, with so many former players lining up for QPR, an upset could be on the cards.

 

Odds (via Oddschecker)

Spurs are short favourites to take the points in this one at 4-5 with the home side long odds at 7-2. A draw suits nobody in this match so, despite the tempting odds of 3-1, it's unlikely to pay off. Neither team defends with any great authority so both teams to score at 7-10 feels like free money.

 

Prediction

Spurs should have too much firepower for QPR and win this one relatively comfortably.