West Bromwich Albion vs Queens Park Rangers

23rd September

Albion will be aiming to return to winning ways when they host Queens Park Rangers under the lights at The Hawthorns on Friday evening (ko 8pm).

The Baggies - backed by over 3,000 travelling supporters - were held to a third consecutive draw by Preston last weekend, but remain unbeaten in the Sky Bet Championship after eight fixtures.

Matty Phillips headed home Albion’s equaliser against North End last week, taking his direct goal involvements to four this season (two goals, two assists) and proving himself as one of Valérien Ismaël’s key attacking outlets.

Phillips will be hoping to add to his tally against former club QPR on Friday night, but the Baggies will face a tough test against a Rangers side who will be similarly determined to record a victory.

How to follow the game

Fans wanting to follow the match live can enjoy live Baggies-biased commentary on WBA TV Matchday with a Match Pass for just £2.50. This also includes access to a full replay of the game which will be available on Sunday. Click here to buy your pass.

Overseas subscribers will not be able to watch the game but can still access live commentary as well as the full match replay.

Click here to listen live or access through the official WBA app.

Opposition

QPR have produced a number of impressive performances on the road since the start of the 2021/22 season.

Having drawn their opening league game against Millwall at Loftus Road, Mark Warburton’s men enjoyed two eye-catching away wins - 3-0 and 3-2 - in their following games versus Hull City and Middlesbrough.

Manager Warburton added proven Championship experience to his squad over the summer, with the fire-power of former Baggie Charlie Austin and loan signing of Andre Gray complementing the varying styles which fellow forwards Lyndon Dykes and Ilias Chair bring to Rangers’ attack.

Despite Tuesday's penalty-shootout Carabao Cup triumph against Everton, the London team head into this fixture having lost two of their last three league games and, like Albion, will be set on securing a much-needed win in the Black Country.

Andre Gray (above) in action for QPR this term

Classic match

It wasn’t plain-sailing, but it was a memorable night at The Hawthorns when the Baggies last faced QPR on home soil in July 2020.

After falling behind to a Ryan Manning strike, Grady Diangana equalised at the end of the first half and Callum Robinson then turned the scores around to give Albion a 2-1 lead.

Eberechi Eze’s stunning effort levelled the contest for Rangers in the closing stages, yet results elsewhere ensured the boys in navy blue-and-white secured promotion to the Premier League.

Read all about it

Adam Reach is the star man in Friday night’s edition of Albion News.

The versatile midfielder provides a detailed interview for Baggies supporters on his arrival at The Hawthorns, Albion’s promotion credentials, coming into the XI in recent weeks and wanting to “bounce back” against QPR.

Copies will be available for purchase at several stalls in and around The Hawthorns on Tuesday. Similarly, programmes and can be purchased online here.

Did you know

The Baggies have enjoyed an unbeaten run against Rangers from their recent Championship clashes in B71.

Albion's last five second tier meetings with the Hoops has seen them drawn three and win two, which includes emphatic 5-1 and 7-1 triumphs in 2007 and 2018 respectively.

Traffic and travel

Supporters are advised to arrive as early as possible or utilise public transport in order to avoid traffic around The Hawthorns. Junction 10 of the M6 will be closed northbound for the weekend from 11pm on Friday. A southbound closure of the same junction will be in place from 8pm on Friday.

LV Bet’s latest odds

Our official betting partner LV BET share the latest stats and odds ahead of Friday night's match against QPR.

Albion are undefeated in the Championship so far this season and sit third in the table. Their last three games in the league have been draws and seen under 2.5 goals in the match.

The visitors, QPR, made a good start to the season, but have lost their last two league outings by a 2-1 scoreline.

WBA are 4/6 to get to winning ways against Rangers at The Hawthorns. To get better odds on a home victory would be to take Albion to win and under 2.5 goals in the clash, which is priced 37/10.

Having scored already this season, Kyle Bartley is 13/2 to net at anytime. For more odds on the match, click here. LV Bet have a new customer offer for Baggies fans here.

Prices are subject to change.

24th September

Karlan Grant’s second-half brace helped Albion come from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers at The Hawthorns on Friday evening.

The away side took the lead in the opening minute thanks to Andre Gray’s low finish, but Valérien Ismaël’s men fought back to turn the game on its head after the break.

Grant’s powerful strike proved too much for QPR stopper Dieng to handle, before the Baggies attacker lashed a low drive into the bottom corner to maintain their unbeaten run in the Sky Bet Championship.

It was a lively start from the visitors, who scored with their first attempt at goal when Gray beat Baggies keeper Sam Johnstone to a loose ball, before coolly poking it into the net to stun the home crowd after just 45 seconds.

But Mark Warburton’s men didn’t create any clear-cut chance during the remainder of the first half, and the hosts came closest to netting the game’s next goal.

Grant and Darnell Furlong saw close-range shots saved by Dieng, and Adam Reach came agonisingly close to levelling the contest before the interval when he connected with Matty Phillips’ inviting cross.

Unfortunately, the Rangers stopper was positioned well to claw the ball out and keep the away side ahead at the break.

Ismaël’s men came out with energy in the second half, and the introduction of Jordan Hugill and Callum Robinson paid dividends as the Baggies started to pile pressure on QPR’s goal.

Hugill used his strength to work space for a header from a corner kick, but the target man could only guide the ball wide as the hosts' dominance started to take shape.

Despite creating more chances since the start of the half, the home side did have their keeper to thank when Johnstone stretched to palm a rasping effort from Moses Odubajo over the bar.

Johnstone’s save was soon rewarded when quick Albion interplay down the left channel allowed Grant space to shoot at goal, and the striker obliged as he fired a rasping effort under Dieng to put the home side on level terms.

Momentum soon swung in the Baggies’ favour, and Robinson and Livermore both saw left-footed shots flash wide of the post, increasing the noise inside The Hawthorns a notch as the game drew towards its conclusion.

But Albion weren’t to be denied when more fast play along the ground gave Grant time inside the box to pick his spot, and lash a powerful shot into the bottom corner to ensure Albion returned to winning ways.

Albion: Johnstone; Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend; Furlong, Livermore, Mowatt, Reach; Diangana (Robinson 57), Phillips (Hugill 57), Grant (Bryan 90).

Substitutes: Button, Kipré, Molumby, Snodgrass.

Attendance: 21,825

Friday 24th September 2021 - 20:00