QPR vs West Ham: Can Sam Allardyce's Hammers secure their first win in April?

A look ahead to this weekend's fixture at Loftus Road

Sam Allardyce reacts on the touchline (AFP/Getty Images)

Relegation threatened QPR host West Ham United on Saturday, in a fixture which could see the first nail hammered into their Championship-bound coffin. Hoops' manager Chris Ramsey will be acutely aware of the fact that his side have trips away to both Liverpool and Manchester City in the weeks that follow, and will be eager to dispose of the Hammers to give QPR a fighting chance.

Sam Allardyce’s West Ham are yet to register a win in April, and last weekend’s loss to Manchester City, including a bizarre own-goal from defender James Collins, will not have done much to ease matters. Unlike their counterparts, West Ham have a relatively relaxed end to the season, with no upcoming encounters with any of the league’s current top ten. A win on Saturday will see the Hammers hot on the heels of Stoke City in joint ninth place, should the Potters failed to collect points this weekend.

With Diafra Sakho potentially missing the rest of the season and Andy Carroll a long-term absentee with knee-ligament damage, it is easy to see why Big Sam’s recent woes have continued with a distinct lack of firepower.

Over in the QPR camp the medical room is just as heavily occupied, with the team in blue and white hoops said to currently have the most injuries in the Premier League. As many as nine players could be unavailable for Ramsey to select this weekend, notable absentees including Eduardo Vargas and Armand Traoré.

KICK OFF: Saturday, 3.00pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

West Ham 2 (Onuoha o.g, Sakho) Queens Park Rangers 0, Premier League, October 2014

West Ham 1 (Joe Cole) Queens Park Rangers 1 (Loic Remy) Premier League, January 2013

Queens Park Rangers 1 (Taarabt) West Ham 2 (Jarvis, Vas Te) Premier League, October 2012

STATS…

Former QPR striker Loic Remy scored on his debut in this fixture back in January 2013.

QPR’s last clean sheet came eight matches ago, beating Sunderland 2-0 back in February.

ODDS…

QPR to win – 13/10

West Ham to win – 2

Draw – 12/5

TV: Highlights on Match of the Day, BBC 1 10.30pm