Rs without a win in last four games in all competitions against fierce rivals

Bragging rights are at stake for Queens Park Rangers on Saturday when they visit fierce rivals Brentford in the Championship.

The Rs are chasing their first win over the Bees this season, having already drawn with Dean Smith’s men in the league after going out to them in the EFL Cup, both at Loftus Road.

History is against QPR, though, having won just once on five trips to Griffin Park this century.

Ian Holloway will be looking for a response from his team against Brentford having lost 2-1 at home to Preston North End last week.

The Rs had taken the lead against the Lilywhites, with Matt Smith netting in the 13th minute for his 10th goal of the season.

However, a brace from Callum Robinson saw Preston come from behind to claim all three points at Loftus Road.

Holloway expressed disappointment at his team’s display following that game, but says he is determined to get his first win over Brentford in his second spell as QPR boss.

“We’ll be trying everything to stop this rot that we’ve got against them at the moment,” he told the club website.

Holloway will be without defender Joel Lynch for the trip to Brentford after it was confirmed the Wales international would miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury.

QPR, however, could recall the likes of Alex Smithies and Luke Freeman to the starting XI at Griffin Park after the pair for the visit of Preston.

Last weekend saw Holloway hand chances to Matt Ingram in goal and Ryan Manning against the Lilywhites, and the Rs boss admits that was to allow him to assess his options ahead of the derby this weekend.

“I wanted to look at what I might have available for the Brentford game and how I might need to play against them,” he added.

“I also looked at how many games people have played. Most important, I looked at beating the opposition.

““The fundamental things we spoke about, for some reason we didn’t do. We managed to get ourselves in front, albeit probably against the run of play. Unfortunately, it then turned into a bit of a stalemate.

“We couldn’t get Ebere Eze on the ball, we couldn’t get those on the ball who we wanted to. In the end, we’ve gone and lost and it’s a little bit disappointing, to be honest.”

Holloway will hope to avoid similar disappointment at Brentford.