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In what has so far been a disappointing Championship campaign for the R’s, they perhaps face their most challenging proposition all season. The Seagulls lie 2nd in the table, eight points away from third place Reading and are unbeaten in their last 16 league games.
You have to go back to the beginning of October since Rangers last recorded an away victory and that was against west London rivals Fulham. There’s been some close encounters since but you get the feeling Holloway’s men will have to be at their best to come away with anything against last season’s play-off semi-finalists.
Despite never being in the Premier League, Brighton are a growing club both on and off the pitch. The AMEX stadium is one of the most attractive in England and in three of the last four seasons they have reached the play-offs in the Championship but have fallen at the semi-finals each time. After their strong first half of the season they will be hoping to avoid the play-offs altogether and finish in the top two.
Since Hughton took over at Brighton almost two years ago the team have done nothing but progress. He guided them away from the relegation zone in 2014/15 and last season they only missed out on automatic promotion via goal difference. They suffered heartache in the play-offs against Sheffield Wednesday but have so far faced no hangover with only Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle amassing more points than the Seagulls.
A crucial factor in Brighton’s rise over the years has been their successful recruitment policy. Players like Dale Stephens, Glenn Murray and Anthony Knockaert have proven to be bargains for Hughton’s men and once again been consistent performers this season.
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Team News
Brighton: Albion manager Chris Hughton will have Jamie Murphy and Uwe Huenemeier available for selection again, following their successful recoveries from injury. Beram Kayal is back training with his team-mates, but Hughton will look to ease the central midfielder back into action with the Brighton under-23s in the New Year.
Brighton Starting Xl?
Stockdale,
Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong,
Knockaert, Stephens, Sidwell, Skalak,
Murray, Hemed.
QPR Starting Xl?
MATCH ODDS
QPR win: 5/1
Draw: 11/4
Brighton: 6/10
QPR first goal scorer: Conor Washington 9/1
Brighton first goal scorer: Glenn Murray 3/1
LAST TIME OUT
Brighton 4 – 0 QPR – Championship, Tuesday 19th April 2016
Brighton goal-scorers: Anthony Knockaert x2, Jiří Skalak, Connor Goldson
HEAD TO HEAD
(In all competitions)
QPR wins: 30
Draws: 17
Brighton wins: 30
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Keith Stroud
Assistant Referees: Derek Eaton and Mark Pottage
Fourth official: James Linington
Rita Ora is an 'R'
Stockdale,
Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong,
Knockaert, Stephens, Sidwell, Skalak,
Murray, Hemed.
QPR Starting Xl?
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MATCH ODDS
QPR win: 5/1
Draw: 11/4
Brighton: 6/10
QPR first goal scorer: Conor Washington 9/1
Brighton first goal scorer: Glenn Murray 3/1
LAST TIME OUT
Brighton 4 – 0 QPR – Championship, Tuesday 19th April 2016
Brighton goal-scorers: Anthony Knockaert x2, Jiří Skalak, Connor Goldson
HEAD TO HEAD
(In all competitions)
QPR wins: 30
Draws: 17
Brighton wins: 30
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Keith Stroud
Assistant Referees: Derek Eaton and Mark Pottage
Fourth official: James Linington
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Rita Ora is an 'R'
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