QPR eyeing play-off spot with a win against Stoke City

QPR will be seeking a move into the Championship play-off spots when they welcome Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.

Rangers currently sit eighth in the table after nine games in the league this season with just one point separating them and third placed Blackburn Rovers, to whom they lost on the opening day.

Three wins from their last five in the Championship will suggest a mixed run of form, but Michael Beale’s side will head into the fixture in good spirits thanks to their 2-0 away win over London rivals Millwall during the week.

Making the trip to Loftus Road will be a Stoke side who are 13th in the table as it stands, with manager Alex Neil still adapting to new surroundings after his move from Sunderland at the end of August.

An opening day defeat away at Rovers was always going to be a disappointing start to the season but upon reflection, losing to a strong side so early in the campaign may not be as bad as it first seemed. QPR soon found their feet though, and now they look comfortable in the top half of the table.

Victory on home soil over Middlesbrough would give them their first points of the season, although domestic cup defeat would soon follow as they were beaten 5-3 on penalties by south-east Londoners Charlton Athletic in the first round of the EFL Cup.

Upon their return to league action, Beale’s side would fail to win in three consecutive matches. A trip to Sunderland would see them go 2-0 down in the first half, but two late goals would ensure they took a point on the long journey back to the capital, including an equaliser from goalkeeper Seny Dieng.

Blackpool nicked all three points at Loftus Road three days later, before newly promoted Rotherham United ensured the points were shared in west London.

QPR’s form as of late has been more impressive though. Promotion hopefuls Watford would prove to be a tough test on their travels, but Rangers sealed their second league win of the season at Vicarage Road. Hull City would also fall to defeat, with QPR securing a comfortable win with three first half goals.

A trip to Wales would end in another loss for the R’s, but they soon bounced back when they travelled to the Den to face Millwall, winning 2-0 across the other side of the capital.

There have been three standout performers for the side so far this season. Chris Willock was been prolific in front of goal so far, having scored five goals in six games.

Ilias Chair has continued his fine form from last season, and already sits on three goals and five assists in just 10 games. Stefan Johansen has also made crucial contributions from midfield, with the Norwegian picking up a goal and four assists for his side.

Should they win and other results go their way, QPR could find themselves in the Championship top six come full-time. However, they face a tough test against a Stoke side who have a point to prove.

Like their opponents on Saturday, Stoke have had a mixed set of results since the beginning of the season, but they have fared a little worse off.

Millwall would defeat them on the opening day by two goals to nil, but a win was soon secured when the Potters faced Blackpool at home. Though League One opposition Morecambe then claimed a penalty shootout victory in the Carabao Cup though, with the match finishing 0-0 in normal time.

Huddersfield Town would defeat Stoke in west Yorkshire, Middlesbrough took a point at the Bet365 Stadium and Sunderland soon took victory, leaving the Potters just one spot above the relegation zone.

A much needed win was claimed away at Blackburn, before Tyrese Campbell’s 91st minute equaliser against Swansea ensured Neil was unbeaten in his first game as boss. However, Reading would hand them another defeat just four days later.

Despite failing to generate any sort of run of form and having four defeats to their name in the Championship, Stoke head to west London off the back of their 3-0 win away at Hull City. Lewis Baker scored twice and assisted once in the match, with the 27-year-old still proving to be a valuable asset to the side.

He made the switch to the Potters from Chelsea in the January transfer window, having spent 17 years at the latter. Since his arrival, he has made 31 appearances for the side, with 12 goals and four assists to his name. Baker’s efforts this season currently have him as the squad’s top contributor.

Given how close the standings are so far this season, a win for Stoke could see them rise up to just outside the play-off spots so with both sides seeking a similar destination in the table, it could be a hard-fought affair at Loftus Road.

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