Adam Clayton for Middlesbrough making a huge challenge in the box, as Matty Phillips drove into the area for Rangers.

End to end at the moment.

Boro on the attack...

Critical tackle there on a weaving Gaston Ramirez from Karl Henry. Slaloming into the box but the ball was whipped away. Boro might have fancied a shot from him there.

QPR definitely more direct, but Boro's base in midfield - Adam Clayton and Grant Leadbitter - are anchoring neatly.  

Corner comes to nothing in the end as Adam Clayton tried to reload the ball into the box, but his delivery goes behind for a goal-kick.

If you were scoring on points, Boro might have just squeaked ahead. Nothing in it really though.

Jordan Rhodes goes close!

Ball whipped in to the back post from the right, Rhodes leaps for it but Nedum Onuoha heads it behind.

Corner.

Good pressure from Gaston Ramirez to close down QPR but he concedes the throw.

Not much cohesion so far. Scrappy-ish.

Throw came to nothing really in the end, after a George Friend cross is over hit.

Boro have the ball back temporarily but Rangers regain possession.

They're in a good position on the right, winning a throw.

Rangers, as the home side, look the more adventurous in the early phases of this one.

Ale Faulin is a pivotal player.

Middlesbrough enjoying a bit of an attack down the right with Albert Adomah prominent... still no shot on goal for them but they've got a throw down by the corner flag.

Good territorial play.

QPR are getting deep into Boro territory quickly, first down the left side and now down the right.

Early flash of a shot from Ale Faurlin well saved by Dimi Konstantopoulos. First effort of the night.

Middlesbrough's minute of possession: Carefully stroked passes stretching the game with patience.

QPR's 30 seconds: Quick break forward and almost win a corner.

Will that be the tone for this one?

We're off... Boro in possession.

Middlesbrough kit is also a retroey classic. Red with pinstripes. We're ready to go...

Not far away, teams about to emerge from the tunnel.

Best thing about QPR being at home here is we avoid the magic-eye attempt that is their awful away kit. As seen at the Riverside earlier in the season.

Their home kit is much more palatable... shades of this 1980s classic being donned by Johnny Byrne at Wembley - though they lost to Oxford in that one - the '85 Milk Cup final of course.

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Will it be many happy returns for in-form QPR striker Sebastian Polter tonight, or will Middlesbrough snuff out the proverbial candles with a win at Loftus Road?

Polter is 25 today, and has two goals in two games... it could be a special night for him to carry on that form.

Image source, Rex Features

He'll be plotting their failure tonight but 10 years ago QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was a Middlesbrough hero.

The Dutchman helped Boro to the Uefa Cup final in Eindhoven, and smashed 34 goals in 89 games during a two-year spell.

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QPR come into the game on the back of a three-game unbeaten run, including a 2-0 home victory against play-off chasing Derby County.

Middlesbrough won on their last outing against Hull City but their form has been patchy with three defeats in five, and their last trip to London ended in defeat by lowly Charlton.

Matty Phillips and Grant Hall comes in for QPR, as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink makes two changes.

Another name to please the Rs faithful is Jack Robinson, on the bench after a year out with a knee injury.

Middlesbrough have influential centre-half Daniel Ayala back tonight, but he is left on the bench.

Stewart Downing comes into the starting XI, with Cristhian Stuani missing out altogether.

Dael Fry is left out of the side with Carlos De Pena taking his place among the subs.

How nice is to have these lighter nights eh? Lovely I'd say. Still, there's something special about Loftus Road under the lights and they're on tonight.

Let's have a look at the team news.

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It might be exciting for the neutral, but an open Championship title race is merely a frustration for coaches, fans and players of the teams at the top.

Since the turn of the year, Burnley, Hull and Middlesbrough have all occupied top spot, while Brighton were at the summit in mid-December and have been as low as sixth before climbing up to second.

Boro were in the midst of a wobble as Aitor Karanka missed the game at Charlton, but his pre-international break return saw the Teessiders beat Hull on home turf.

It's certainly nowhere near over yet!

The first day of April, the clocks have gone forward and the nights are getting lighter - but we're still none the wiser as to who will hold their nerve in the Championship promotion race.

Burnley hold top spot, and take on Brighton in second tomorrow, but tonight Middlesbrough - in third - get a head start.

Queens Park Rangers stand in their way of a place in the top two, with a packed and atmospheric Loftus Road backing them in their quest.

It should be a corker... why not follow it here?

Image source, Getty Images