West Brom v QPR preview: Tony Mowbray urges Baggies to make most of run-in advantage
Albion boss Tony Mowbray is eyeing a positive return from The Hawthorns to aid his side's push in a busy play-off race.
Six of Albion's final 11 Championship fixtures come in front of their own fans, beginning with Saturday's visit of mid-table Queens Park Rangers.
Surprise lowly strugglers Hull City then visit the Black Country the following weekend, sandwiching a testing trip to high-flyers Burnley next midweek. Other visitors still to come to The Hawthorns are Sunderland - yesterday moved for television to 12.30pm on April 5 - Watford, Derby and Luton on the final day.
The Rs, under head coach Marti Cifuentes, arrive in 14th place on the very fringes of the huge chasing pack with an eye on finishing in the top six.
"We've got to make sure we give ourselves the best chance for the real run-in - when we get to single figures of games after this international break - to hopefully have as many players available," Mowbray said when asked about the three-game week ahead.
"The key at the moment is to win the next one. When Saturday's out the way we know it's a tough one (next against Burnley), but we don't have any fears about a tough one as we just had a tough one against Leeds. This club should be feeling they can compete with anybody in this league and give them a good game.
"With the fixture list left there's a lot of points there for us at home. Eleven games and six at home, we have to try to capitalise on that and pick up as many points as possible.
"Away from home we need to find the right formula to pick up a few wins along the way. If you can win as many as seven, or many even six and some draws, it's going to give you a real opportunity for 70-odd points, historically enough to sneak into the play-offs.
"We're looking forward to the challenge and so we should, performances are getting there. I can see an identity starting to appear. Hopefully with our processes the performances look after themselves and the results come."
Struggles away from home have been an Albion theme of late. The most recent victory came at Hull in November amid a current run of one away success in 15 attempts and none yet under Mowbray.
The returning head coach's three wins since his January appointment have all come at The Hawthorns.
Mowbray stated visitors QPR have capability to get at stronger opposition but Albion must take advantage of their settings.
"They've got good individual talent I'd suggest, players who can unlock a door of most teams in the Championship," added the head coach. "We have to be mindful of some individuals they've got. They're an honest, hard-working, capable team in the Championship. We played one of those sides last time at home against Oxford.
"There are no easy games in this league but it's a game in our minds we have to be really positive, aggressive and try to get three points.
"It's a home game, our home form has generally been pretty good. We have to continue in the same vein.
"I think you take your eye off the ball looking at the other two games. You've got to pick the team to win this game, there are then obviously repercussions off the back of game one depending on any injuries and we have a situation with potential suspensions as well (Callum Styles and Jayson Molumby on eight yellow cards)."
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