Sheffield United v QPR predictions: Super Hoops poised to raid Bramall Lane

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Monday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 7.45pm Monday

Best bet

QPR
1pt 10-3 general

Team news

Sheffield United
Robin Olsen, Jack O'Connell, John Fleck and Rhian Brewster are likely to miss out, while Sander Berge has been frozen out with a January move on the horizon.

QPR
Jordy de Wijs, Lyndon Dykes, Sam McCallum and Lee Wallace are out. Albert Adomah and Moses Odubajo are rated doubtful.

Match preview

The last four meetings between Sheffield United and QPR have been decided by a single goal and the promotion-chasing Hoops could edge another close encounter at Bramall Lane.

Both sides will have their eyes on a top-six finish this season and Monday's encounter could be a preview of a potential playoff clash come May.

A disappointing start to the season coupled with a disagreement with the Blades board saw Slavisa Jokanovic's United reign end after just 19 league games with Paul Heckingbottom soon returning to the Bramall Lane dugout.

The former Leeds boss was interim manager for the Blades' final 11 games of last season’s doomed Premier League campaign and got off to a perfect start as their permanent manager with victories over Bristol City and Cardiff.

However, both of those sides are in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle and QPR should provide a much sterner test.

Rangers were unbeaten in six games prior to their 2-0 defeat at home to Stoke last weekend which was the first time this season they had failed to score in a league match, although the result may well have been different had Charlie Austin not missed a penalty with the score at 1-0.

Mark Warburton’s squad have threats across the park and they have shared the goals around this season with no player scoring more than six of their 33 total in the league.

Their defensive record could be slightly better but Rangers have tightened up at the back in recent weeks, conceding four goals in their last six games.

Of QPR’s six defeats this season, three have been at the hands of the Championship's top three - Fulham, Bournemouth and West Brom - and ten wins, five draws and three losses against the rest of the division is a decent return.

There are a number of similarities between the two sides which should make Monday's clash a tactically intriguing encounter.

Playing three at the back has become the most popular formation in the Championship and both sides have fully embraced that system. Both are also likely to play two attacking midfielders behind a lone striker and the game may be decided by one moment of quality.

And QPR’s dynamic duo Ilias Chair and Chris Willock could be the likeliest candidates to provide it.

Key stat

QPR have scored in all but one of their Championship games this season.

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