Steve Claridge
BBC Radio 5 live

"Three times now Aston Villa have caught QPR on the counter. They're showing why they are a dangerous team away from home. I like the look of Carlos Sanchez in the Villa midfield - he's busy, good on the ball and breaks things up."

First sniff of a chance for Aston Villa as a weak QPR clearance goes only as far as Ashley Westwood, but he lashes his shot straight at Robert Green in the QPR goal. Villa's attack came from a quick counter after the home side lost possession. Something for the hosts to watch out for?

Steve Claridge
BBC Radio 5 live

"It's a good start from QPR - they're putting lots of pressure on the ball and getting players forward on the overlap, especially down the right side. It's very positive."

Image source, AFP

QPR are straight on the front foot and win an early corner, but it comes to nothing. Aston Villa assistant coach Roy Keane responds to the home side's bright start by throwing some chewing gum down on the floor in front of him. Would anyone dare to tell him to pick it up?

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Claridge
BBC Radio 5 live

"I'm pleased to see two players up front for QPR. It will get the crowd going because they need to get after Aston Villa. Charlie Austin will relish having Bobby Zamora alongside him."

Image source, Getty Images

Despite the two clubs' poor form, there is a good atmosphere under the lights at Loftus Road. Can one of them pick up a much-needed win tonight?

QPR, who start with Bobby Zamora and Charlie Austin in attack, get us under way.

QPR midfielder Joey Barton: Big game tonight. Gutted to miss it but injury is almost there. Wishing the lads all the best. Need our 12th man.

John Motson
BBC Radio 5 live

"QPR have got to get a win sooner or later. The way the last game ended against Liverpool was farcical. Aston Villa are not comfortable in the league either, so it's going to be a bit of a scrap."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 live commentary from Loftus Road on this page.

Alistair Bruce-Ball
BBC Radio 5 live at Loftus Road

"This season already has a worryingly familiar feel for QPR to their doomed campaign two years ago when they picked up just four points from their first 12 games under Mark Hughes and Harry Redknapp wasn't able to save the sinking ship.

"This time they've got four points from eight games but after the match against Aston Villa it's Chelsea away and then Manchester City at home which surely puts a little added pressure on getting all three points in this one.

"Six weeks ago Villa were second in the table after their first four games having racked up three wins and a draw. They're now in the bottom half of the table having failed to add to their points tally, or even goals tally, in defeats against Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton."

Image source, Getty Images

So then QPR fans, Harry Redknapp has developed a reputation of being a specialist in guiding sides away from relegation but do you think he is the right man to lead your side up the table and away from danger?

Aston Villa fans, what about Paul Lambert? He had your side riding high early in the season but four successive defeats have seen Villa drop into the bottom half. Concerned?

Have your say via #bbcfootball,, external text us on 81111 or pop a message on our BBC Sport Facebook, external and Google+, external pages.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp, speaking to Sky Sports: "It is the same shape as the Liverpool game. The lads have done very well, it is always difficult leaving Rio Ferdinand out of the team, but he is a fantastic professional, he accepts it, I have just decided to give the other two lads in defence ago.

"I want to see the same work rate again, same intensity. We are at home, there is a good atmosphere and we just need to make sure we give it a real go.

"There is nothing in the table but we have to get that win first and if we do the table will look much better."

QPR: Green, Isla, Dunne, Caulker, Yun, Vargas, Henry, Sandro, Fer, Zamora, Austin. Subs: Traore, Hill, Phillips, Kranjcar, Murphy, Hoilett, Ferdinand.

Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Cissokho, Cleverley, Westwood, Sanchez, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Weimann. Subs: Okore, Bacuna, Cole, Richardson, Bent, N'Zogbia, Given.

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

QPR boss Harry Redknapp makes two changes - goalkeeper Rob Green back in the team to replace his understudy Alex McCarthy while Nedum Onuoha is replaced by Eduardo Vargas, the Chilean who scored twice in the 3-2 defeat by Liverpool last weekend. Rio Ferdinand is benched.

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has made four changes to the team which were beaten 3-0 at Everton last time out, with Matt Lowton, Ciaran Clark, Andreas Weimann and Carlos Sanchez replacing Alan Hutton, Kieran Richardson, Charles N'Zogbia and Nathan Baker.

Image source, Getty Images

Right then, it is time to switch my FA Cup hat for my Premier League one because there is some top-flight action tonight as QPR host Aston Villa.

More has been said in recent days about about the spat between Harry Redknapp and Adel Taarabt than the club's current plight, with QPR propping up the standings after collecting just four points from eight games, but Redknapp's says the public dispute is now in the past.

Taarabt will not feature tonight because of illness, and Redknapp could certainly do without the added distraction anyway. He needs to start picking up points and quickly, otherwise his 'Harry Houdini' getup might have to be pulled out of the wardrobe sooner than he'd have probably liked.

It certainly seems he is going to need all his powers of escapology to keep Rangers in the top flight and, if recent speculation is to be believed,, external perhaps even his job.

wmorrell: , externalEast Thurrock at home. Why do I feel nervous????

Ships: , externalBlyth Spartans v Altrincham must be one of the ties of the round with their combined FA Cup pedigree.

Adam David Pattison: , externalShildon v Gateshead would be a cracking tie for the north east! Providing Shildon get through

David Edwards: , externalShrews at Walsall for 2nd year running in 1st round, time for some revenge!!

Other tasty looking ties I would say are Canvey or Havant and Waterlooville v Preston or Chorley or FC Halifax v Bradford.

Blyth Spartans versus Altrincham also sees a couple of non-league sides with FA Cup pedigree go head to head.

Jonny, Bradford: Tasty little West Yorkshire derby if Halifax can beat Chorley. Been ages since we faced non-league, come on Bantams!

Warrington Town manager Shaun Reid, speaking on BBC Two about his side's home draw against Exeter: "The chairman promised us a few quid if we got league opposition so the lads will be made up with that.

"I played in the FA Cup against Exeter for Rochdale so it will be good to get them to our place."

Plenty of the non-league sides will fancy their chances of getting through to the second round. Warrington at home to Exeter City, they might fancy an upset there?