In-form QPR host Reading in test of Championship promotion credentials

Queens Park Rangers welcome Reading to Loftus Road on Friday evening in a meeting of two surprise early-season Championship promotion contenders.

After initially making an underwhelming start to life under new manager Mick Beale, QPR have won five of their last seven league games. This upturn in form means they currently sit fourth in the Championship table, keeping pace with sides like Norwich City, Burnley and Sheffield United – who are all benefitting from parachute payments after spells in the Premier League.

A 1-0 win at Bramall Lane against the Blades on Tuesday night is arguably Rangers result of the season, and was a further sign that Beale is instilling a defensive resolve to match a well-established penchant for attacking verve.

QPR had failed to keep a clean sheet under the management of the former Aston Villa assistant coach until the 2-0 victory against Millwall in the middle of September. Following that shut out, they have conceded just once across three games.

A concern for Beale will be the potential absence of creative midfielder Chris Willock. The Arsenal academy graduate was forced off with a hamstring injury just five minutes after scoring the decisive goal in south Yorkshire, and it is unclear if he will be available for selection on Friday night.

Willock’s strike against Sheffield United was his sixth goal of the season, and he has proven to be vital to QPR’s chances of success this season. The R’s have not won any of the four games that their talisman has been unavailable so far this term, whilst they have only failed to win on two occasions when Willock has started.

Leeds United loanee Tyler Roberts getting off the mark in last weekend’s win at Bristol City may mean that Beale now has something close to a suitable alternative available in attack, but the onus will now be on creative hub Ilias Chair to build on the five assists he has registered this season.

Although Rangers’ new manager has guided them into the play-off places a lot sooner than expected, the success Paul Ince and Reading have enjoyed so far this season has been an even greater surprise for many.

After just about steering the Royals clear of relegation last term, little was expected in the way of progression under Ince. But with seven wins from their first 12 fixtures, the Berkshire club currently sit third in the second-tier table.

Despite being under a soft EFL transfer embargo throughout the summer, a small squad of players appear galvanised by the situation they find themselves in.

Reading’s early success has been anything but dull either. No team in the top half of the Championship has conceded more goals, and runs of victories have been punctuated by heavy defeats to Rotherham United, Sunderland and Sheffield United.

Their 1-1 draw against league leaders Norwich in midweek therefore went against the form book somewhat, as it was the first time Ince’s side have shared the points this season.

Club captain Andy Yiadom missed the meeting with the Canaries after hobbling off against Huddersfield Town last weekend. Ince is also likely to be without both wing-back Baba Rahman and experienced striker Shane Long due to knocks. Liam Moore, Scott Dann and Naby Sarr are all long-term absentees.

Although both QPR and Reading head into Friday night with issues to contend with, a place in the automatic promotions places is up for grabs if either can secure three points. Even at this nascent stage of the season, such a boost could prove to be pivotal by the time the race for the Premier League gets serious in the New Year.

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