Sheffield United and QPR look to put their respective playoff pushes back on track at Bramall Lane

Sheffield United host Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Tuesday evening, with both sides sat outside of the playoff positions and separated by just one place and two points.

The two sides have both spent time in the top-six this term, with the visitors contesting at that end of the table for the majority of the campaign whilst the Blades have risen up the table thanks to largely immaculate form under Paul Heckingbottom.

With just one month left to go before the playoffs get underway the race for a top-six finish is seriously hotting up, with an array of sides still in the picture.

Both the Blades and the Hoops are still firmly in the race, however, they will have to shake off recent setbacks and ignite a sharp burst of form to get them over the finish line.

A 1-0 defeat at Stoke City last time out for Heckingbottom’s side wasn’t the ideal way to start the run-in after the international break, with the South Yorkshire outfit now eighth in the table. Although, they are just a point behind sixth-placed Blackburn Rovers.

Moreover, under the 44-year-old, United have been impeccable at home, winning eight of their nine games in S2 since the Yorkshireman took over from Slavisa Jokanovic. The only game that wasn’t won was a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest, the only home game in which the Blades have conceded.

Alarm bells will certainly be ringing for Mark Warburton as he prepares to take his QPR side to the fortress that is Bramall Lane with the Englishman subject to reports that his time at the helm of the West London club is over.

At the time of writing, the 59-year-old is yet to be dismissed.

Rangers have endured a dramatic drop in form of late, losing seven of their last ten league outings which has seen the Hoops drop out of the top six. Although, they are just three points outside of the playoff positions.

What could prove alarming for Warburton’s team is the fact that after Tuesday’s trip to South Yorkshire the two sides will meet again on 30th April at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, with this fixture originally scheduled for earlier in the campaign but was one of many subject to postponement over the festive period.

Furthermore, a trip to Huddersfield is still in the calendar, with the Terriers currently occupying third place in the table and looking increasingly likely to finish in the playoff spots as the weeks go by.

As for United, the fixture list is also unkind in places with meetings against the current top two in Bournemouth and Fulham still to take place. However, Heckingbottom and co. will fancy their chances with both games at home.

Based on the current makeup of the table and the form certain sides in and around the top six are in, you would be forgiven for suggesting that no more than one of Sheffield United and QPR will compete in the playoffs, which makes Tuesday’s fixture absolutely crucial.

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