QPR vs Watford

TEAM NEWS
Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock has no fresh injury worries as his side prepare for their first game in a fortnight.
Fit-again striker Heidar Helguson could face his former club but Warnock is likely to continue with Rob Hulse.

Watford hope to welcome back former QPR youth player Michael Bryan, who missed the 3-2 win over Leicester with an ankle injury.
Manager Malky Mackay has no other injury concerns to contend with.

MATCH PREVIEW
Queens Park Rangers go into Friday night's televised match four points clear at the top of the Championship table, with a game in hand. Still unbeaten in the league, they will equal their club record of 20 games without defeat if they avoid losing to Watford. These are exciting times for QPR fans, who have not seen top-flight football at Loftus Road since 1996.

A word of warning though; Watford derailed QPR's challenge at this stage last season in spectacular style. A 3-1 loss to the Hornets in December, also televised live, resulted in an infamous changing room bust-up between QPR manager Jim Magilton and midfielder Akos Buzsaky. Magilton was dismissed a few days later and Rangers, who began December in a play-off position, slumped to 20th by the end of February.
There is no indication that a similar slump will occur this season but that experience will help guard against complacency. Watford can be dangerous on their travels, as their 6-1 win at Millwall in September demonstrated. Malky Mackay's side showed their fighting spirit last weekend, scoring a late winner against Leicester after letting slip a 2-0 lead.
Rangers - whose match at Hull last weekend was postponed - have not been in action since beating nearest-challengers Cardiff City at Loftus Road two weeks ago. That win was inspired by their exciting forward Adel Taarabt, who manager Neil Warnock calls "a man you'd pay to watch." QPR fans may well be paying to watch him in the Premier League next season if he maintains his current form.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• QPR v Watford is a significant fixture for both clubs; it was their first-ever football league match, played in the newly-formed Division Three at Loftus Road in August 1920. Watford won 2-1 with goals from Peter Ronald and Charlie White.
• The clubs have met 112 times in all, with QPR leading by 47 wins to 33. There have been 32 draws.

Queens Park Rangers
• QPR are unbeaten in the league this season and will equal their club record of 20 consecutive unbeaten league matches if they avoid defeat.
• QPR and Watford are the Championship's joint-leading scorers. Both have 35 goals this season, as have Cardiff.
• Rangers kept clean sheets in their first six home league games but have conceded in their last four.
Watford
• Watford have picked up more points on their travels (14) than at home (13).
• The Hornets' victory against Leicester last week was their first win in eight games.
• Championship games involving Watford have contained 67 goals - more than any other team.