Aston Villa's dire recent home form has been as unfathomable as the absence of an apostrophe in Queens Park Rangers.

It is nearly three months since Villa last won in front of their own fans, and a run of four successive defeats was only checked by a draw with Everton in their most recent home fixture.

Having been outgunned by Arsenal's second-half fightback in the FA Cup on Sunday, all that remains for Villa this season is to try and better last year's ninth-placed finish.

QPR's own cup exit, to Chelsea, also narrows their focus to the league, and more precisely the avoidance of an immediate return to the Championship. To that end, new manager Mark Hughes has augmented his squad with athletic, powerful players in the transfer window.

Hughes, who denies being overlooked for the Villa job last summer, has never won as a manager at Villa Park. However, his opposite number Alex McLeish is faring little better; with the home support restless, McLeish will need to beat the Hoops- and jump through a few more - to appease them.

Head-to-head




• Aston Villa have won the last four league meetings at Villa Park. QPR's last win at Villa in the league came in March 1992.



• Rangers won their last match at Villa Park - a 1-0 victory in the League Cup third round in September 2008. Damion Stewart scored the only goal.



Aston Villa




• Villa are winless in their last five home league matches, having lost four of them. It is their longest run at home without victory since a six-match streak between January to April 2009.



• They are attempting to win back-to-back league matches for the first time this season.



• Villa and Wolves have recovered an unequalled 10 points from losing positions this season.



• Alex McLeish's side are the only team not to have scored from a corner routine in the Premier League this season, according to Opta.



• Darren Bent is one shy of his 100th Premier League goal.



• If fit, James Collins could make his 200th English league appearance, while Stephen Warnock is set to play in his 200th Premier League game.



QPR




• QPR are looking to win successive Premier League matches for the first time since December 1995.



• As a manager, Mark Hughes has never won a Premier League game at Villa Park (D4, L3).



• Rangers have conceded in each of their last 13 league matches.



• If fit, Akos Buzsaky could make his 200th English league appearance.