QPR have accumulated 12 points from their opening nine Championship games, a points tally that leaves them in 10th place. 

Mark Warburton's side made an excellent start to the season and were without a second-tier defeat in six. 

Winning three and drawing three of those games, The R's emerged as a very difficult side to beat, possessing excellent potential going forward and a strong defensive unit. 

The R's have since lost their last three Championship games, with all three being by the same 2-1 scoreline. 

A narrow defeat away to Bournemouth was followed by two late opposing winners, with Bristol City and West Brom seeing victories at the death. 

The West London club face Birmingham City tonight and will be hoping to return to winning ways.

Here are three curveballs that Mark Warburton could throw at Lee Bowyer ahead of tonight's fixture...

Start Dykes and Austin

Andre Gray has been brought in to add an extra dynamic to QPR's front-line, and whilst he has made a strong start in stretching opposing defences and getting on the scoresheet, Lyndon Dykes and Charlie Austin could help The R's get back to winning ways. 

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The physicality that the pair bring, coupled with Dykes' pace and Austin's attacking intelligence, has made them a difficult force to stop. 

Birmingham do have a strong defensive backline, but the energy needed to compete with the aforementioned duo will certainly tire them, and that is when Gray can come on and cause even more problems. 

Bring in Luke Amos

Luke Amos has not started a league game in almost a year, and whilst it is difficult to just chuck him back into the starting line up, he did play 57 minutes during the club's triumph over Everton in the Carabao Cup. 

Amos is a technically gifted footballer, who has the passing range and vision to make things happen going forward, but he also has the tenacity and energy to win back the ball, to help dominate possession. 

The 24-year-old may not have played much football lately, but just before his injury, he was excellent, orchestrating play and stopping attacks, and next to the vastly experienced Stefan Johansen, he can improve even more. 

Start a more attacking option at left wing-back

An injury to Sam McCallum is forcing QPR to deploy Yoann Barbet at left wing-back, and whilst it is a role he is competent enough to fill in for, playing a winger in this position could be the best way to undo The Blues. 

Albert Adomah could be an option, despite predominantly operating as a right-winger. Not only would Adomah's attack-minded nature pose more of an attacking threat down the left, but it is a move that could force Maxime Colin into his more defensive responsibilities, lessening the influence he has when going forward. 

Should Dykes and Austin start together up front, they would certainly benefit from having two attack-minded options in the wing-back roles.