Oxford are still seeing plenty of the ball but QPR are pressing them well and pushing them back towards their own penalty area.

So much so, visiting keeper Jamie Cumming has just sliced one straight out of play.

The home side's turn to show as Joe Bryan sees a first-time strike from the edge of the box deflected behind by a defender before Japhet Tanganga's towering far post header back across goal from the resultant corner sails a foot over Michael Cooper's crossbar.

Lively, full-blooded start at The Den.

Peter Swan
Former Hull City player on BBC Radio Humberside

There is a lot of mistakes from both teams here in the early stages, lots of misplaced passes.

Both teams are really having a go here though and it is a very open game.

The recalled Jeremy Ngakia pops up at the far post to meet a low cross from the left but his half-volley is charged down by a sliding defender.

Glimpse of goal for the visitors as Gus Hamer glides across the Millwall area with the ball under his spell before backheeling to Harrison Burrows whose whipped left-footed effort from the edge of the area clips Casper de Norre before deflecting wide of target.

The resultant corner comes to nought.

A fairly even opening at Loftus Road with both sides probing when they're in possession. Nothing in the way of any clear-cut chances just yet.

Oxford are knocking it about nicely, it must be said, and Des Buckingham will like the look of his side so far.

New manager, same Hull nerves... Tigers keeper Ivor Pandur almost causes a calamity trying to play it out from the back, putting his defence under pressure.

Watford have done their homework and are pressing high but on this occasion can only force a goal kick.

Josh Bowler rifles a powerful left-footed drive from distance for Preston but Jak Alnwick gets down well to parry it away.

Stefan Teitur Thordarson then loops in a cross and Liam Lindsay meets it at the back stick but can't divert his header on target.

Both sides having a sniff of goal in the first five minutes.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at The Hawthorns

Image source, Ged Scott - BBC Sport

It's another chilly evening in the Black Country. Maybe not as cold as it was here on Sunday for Albion's 2-2 draw with Sheffield United. But only time will be the judge of that. And, in any case, it also may not have been the best plan lingering too closely to the fan heater operating in The Hawthorns pressroom. Have I been lulled into a false sense of warmth?

Going into battle underclad for a night game is a terrible error for any supposedly professional working scribe. So we shall see!

As to how heated a contest it's likely to be out there tonight. It's hard to call.

Albion may have draws on their card right now than a 1970s pools-winning millionaire, but that run surely has to end some time. And a lot of people were very pleased with how they played on Sunday.

A first home win since beating Wayne Rooney's Plymouth here on 19 September? Or Frank Lampard to remain unbeaten as Coventry City boss? Or even win here like he did on his only previous visit as a boss, with Derby County six years ago . . . 4-1?

Image source, Rex Features

West Brom are getting themselves a bit of a reputation as the Championship's draw kings.

An 11-game unbeaten run in the league sounds pretty impressive, but remarkably, 10 of those have been draws for the Baggies.

Since winning five of their opening six, Carlos Corberan's side have tasted victory just once, slowly slipping from the top of the table on 21 September to eighth ahead of tonight.

A much-needed victory would certainly re-ignite their promotion push but it might not come easily against a Coventry team under new management.

It's still very early days for Frank Lampard but he's unbeaten since taking over as the new Sky Blues boss.

Granted it's only two games, but Coventry followed up their 2-2 draw against Cardiff with an impressive 1-0 win away at Millwall at the weekend.

Only four points separates Lampard's men from the drop zone, though, so they are still very much looking over their shoulder at the moment.

Peter Swan
Former Hull City player on BBC Radio Humberside

Lets hope the fans are treated to a good display, and lets not forget we have Christmas just around the corner. Life is crazy at the moment financially so it is understandable the reason why the fans are not here tonight, but they will be at home supporting their team and wanting the best for them.

The fans here tonight will want to see something good and it will take so much pressure off the players and the manager if they can get a result tonight and lets try and build from that.

I am looking forward to an exciting game.

A bright start for Cardiff as Yakou Meite is rolled in on the right by Rubin Colwill but he hits a tame effort wide of the near-post.

Decent early opening for the Bluebirds, though.

A high foot from Ryan Giles connects with the lowered face of Watford's Jeremy Ngakia in the opening seconds but the Hornets free-kick is cleared allowing the hosts to spring forward.

Kasey Palmer blazes down the left and crosses for Ryan Longman who can only side-foot a first time effort across the face of goal with the Hornets goals at his mercy.

Image source, PA Media

What does Wednesday night have in store for us? Let's see...

We are off and running everywhere except The Hawthorns...

The pre-match pyrotechnics and light shows have faded away and we are left with nothing in the night air except anticipation...

The players are out and kick-off awaits in the first four of tonight's five matches...

Neil Harris has handed George Saville the captain’s armband for his final Millwall game in charge at The Den.

Japhet Tanganga returns from suspension with Romaine Esse and Mihailo Ivanovic coming in up front with Macauley Langstaff dropping to the bench and Ryan Leonard and George Honeyman missing out.

Chris Wilder has made two changes from the Blades side which drew 2-2 at West Brom on Sunday.

Harry Souttar returns from a one-match ban in place of Femi Seriki while Rhian Brewster is handed a start up top after Tyrese Campbell limped off with a suspected hamstring injury on Sunday.

Kieffer Moore is back on the Blades bench.

In his first game in charge Ruben Selles has made two changes from the Hull side which lost 1-0 at home to Blackburn on Saturday.

Steven Alzate and Joao Pedro are recalled with Gustavo Puerta and Chris Bedia dropping to the bench.

Watford boss Tom Cleverley has made two changes from the last Hornets side which drew 0-0 against QPR on 30 November.

Jeremy Ngakia and Tom Ince come in with Moussa Sissoko and Ryan Andrews among the replacements on the bench.

Omer Riza makes three changes to the Cardiff City line-up that drew 2-2 with Coventry in their last game 12 days ago.

Emmanouil Siopis misses out with suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season in that game, while Jamilu Collins drops to the bench and David Turnbull is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Andy Rinomhota, Rubin Colwill and Joel Bagan all come into the starting XI.

Preston North End boss Paul Heckinbottom has made two changes from the 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Liam Lindsay and Josh Bowler start as Brad Potts drops to the bench and Andrew Hughes misses out with a knock.

QPR boss Marti Cifuentes makes three changes from the side that beat Norwich 3-0 at the weekend.

Zan Celar suffered a hamstring injury against the Canaries and misses out, while Kenneth Paal is left out after coming off injured in that game and Kieran Morgan drops to the bench.

Harrison Ashby, Sam Field and Rayan Kolli come into the starting line-up.

Des Buckingham has also made three changes for Oxford United from their 1-1 draw with Millwall on 30 November.

Mark Harris comes in for Dane Scarlett up front, Idris El Mizouni starts in midfield instead of Will Vaulks and Peter Kioso takes Sam Long's place at the back.

Scarlett and Vaulks are among the subs but Long is not in the squad.

Image source, Rex Features

Former Watford, Hull City and West Brom boss Nigel Pearson has said "learning to walk again has been an incredible challenge" after revealing he was dealing with a "neurological situation" last year.

The 61-year-old said he was waiting for more tests to diagnose the health issue in October 2023 shortly before he was sacked as Bristol City manager.

Pearson posted an update of his condition on social media as he thanked "all the kind people who have continued to send their support during the last 13 months".

He added: "Learning to walk again has been an incredible challenge.

"My appreciation of support from family, friends, colleagues, supporters, and medical professionals has been profound."

Click here to read about Pearson's recovery.