Queens Park Rangers

Image source, Rex Features

Former Queens Park Rangers head coach Gareth Ainsworth is back in a job.

Ainsworth was sacked by the Rs last October after a run of nine Championship games without a win left them six points from safety.

The 51-year-old had only been appointed in the February, following 11 years at Wycombe.

Ainsworth won only five of his 28 games in charge and the Rs lost six consecutive matches to finish his reign in 22nd place and with just eight points from 14 games at the start of last season.

On Wednesday afternoon Ainsworth, who has been working in the media, was named as the new boss of Shrewsbury, who sit bottom of League One..

Salop were looking to replace Paul Hurst, whose second spell ended last week after just seven months as head coach.

Image source, Getty Images

Ilias Chair will definitely miss QPR's Championship game at Leeds on Saturday.

The forward was forced off at the start of the second half during Tuesday's 4-1 home defeat by Middlesbrough.

"He was not very good after the game, he had a lot of pain in his knee," QPR boss Marti Cifuentes told a pre-match press conference.

"He went for some tests and we will know more after that."

Cifuentes is hopeful of having some of his injured players back sooner rather than later with Kenneth Paal, Morgan Fox and Michael Frey all nearing a return.

"We know Paal, Fox and Frey are in the last part of their recovery, we will see if they manage to be available for this game or after the international break,” Cifuentes added.

"Harrison Ashby had some tightness in his hamstring but could play against Leeds."

QPR are 10 games without a league win, losing five of those but the head coach is confident they can get something out of their trip to Elland Road.

"We cannot choose the schedule, we know it is going to be tough but it's 11 against 11 and I'm very competitive," the Spaniard said.

"If I wasn't confident then I shouldn't be here, I believe in my players and of course we know we are in a difficult situation but the next opportunity is the best one to turn the dynamic."

Image source, BBC Sport

Queens Park Rangers are second from bottom and without a win in their last nine games (D5 L4), having picked up just one victory so far this season.

Middlesbrough have only won one of their last five (D1 L3) and are in need of points to keep in touch with the play-off spots.

• The away team have won four of the last seven league meetings between QPR and Middlesbrough (D1 L2).

• Middlesbrough are looking to win consecutive away league games against QPR for just a second time, also doing so in January 2018.

• QPR have failed to win any of their last seven league games in midweek (D4 L3) since beating Stoke 4-2 at home in November 2023.

• Middlesbrough won both league matches in London last season, beating Millwall 3-1 and QPR 2-0. They could win three consecutive such games for the first time since February 2012.

• Middlesbrough's Finn Azaz has been involved in eight goals in his 16 away appearances for Boro in the Championship (5 goals, 3 assists), five of which have come in his last seven such games (2 goals, 3 assists).

Image source, Getty Images

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