QPR vs Sheffield Utd prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-01-01 20:00.
The Neil Critchley era suffered its first major setback as Queens Park Rangers closed out 2022 with a hugely disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Luton. The new boss admitted that his side “failed a lot'' in that loss, something that’s becoming a real habit on home soil, with the R’s losing each of their last four league matches on their own turf, even failing to score on three occasions.
Life isn’t about to get any easier for the Loftus Road faithful, with promotion-chasing Sheffield United visiting; an opponent they’ve lost five of the last six H2H meetings against (W1). The one success in that sequence did come in this season’s reverse fixture though, so QPR could complete their first double over the Blades in more than a decade with victory here, which could also propel them back into the play-off positions.
While struggling QPR have won just one of their last nine league games, Sheffield United have won eight of theirs (L1) and now sit 11 points clear of the chasing pack inside the automatic promotion places ahead of this round. Manager Paul Heckingbottom described their 2-1 victory over Blackpool as a “first class” performance as Sheffield United won a fifth consecutive away fixture.
It now appears to be a two-horse race for the Championship title between Sheffield United and Burnley, and the Blades could keep up the pressure on their Lancashire rivals by winning a sixth consecutive game for the first time since 2017, with victory in their opening clash of 2023. Charging this purple patch has been the division’s tightest defence, with no side conceding fewer than their 22 so far this term.
Players to watch: QPR forward Chris Willock is his side’s joint top scorer this season, and netted the winner in October’s reverse fixture. He’ll be battling the creative exploits of Iliman Ndiaye, who has assisted a goal in each of his last four Championship appearances.
Hot stat: QPR have scored just two of their 15 home goals after half-time; only Preston have netted fewer in the second half (one).