Seeking to build on their impressive run of form, Championship title contenders Sheffield United kick-start 2023 with an away trip to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers on Monday night.
While the R's lost to Luton Town on home soil last time out, the Blades claimed maximum points against Blackpool on the road.
Match preview
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After picking up four points from his first two games in charge of QPR, newly-appointed head coach Neil Critchley suffered his first defeat when his side were comprehensively beaten 3-0 at home against Luton on Thursday night.
The R's have now lost each of their last four league matches at Loftus Road and they have slipped down to 13th place in the table, but only two points separate them from Sunderland in fourth, with another wide open race for promotion seemingly on the cards in the second tier.
Indeed, a victory on Monday could see QPR climb back into the playoffs, and they should be confident of success having already beaten Sheffield United this season, with a solitary strike from Chris Willock securing a 1-0 away win in October.
QPR, who are unbeaten in their last six opening league matches of a calendar year, will be looking to do the double over the Blades for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign under former boss Neil Warnock, who managed both sides during his esteemed coaching career.
While QPR are struggling to find consistency, Sheffield United have won eight of their last nine league matches, including each of their last five, and have put themselves in a strong position to secure at least an automatic promotion spot this season.
The Blades secured a 2-1 victory away at Blackpool in their most recent fixture on Thursday, with Sander Berge and James McAtee both on the scoresheet to help them move 11 points clear of Blackburn Rovers in third.
Paul Heckingbottom's men are now battling with Burnley in what has shaped out to be a two-horse race for the Championship title, and the Blades are tasked with narrowing the three-point gap to the Clarets at the summit.
Sheffield United have lost their opening league match in each of the last three calendar years and all three were by a 2-0 scoreline away from home. However, the South Yorkshire outfit have won their last two visits to Loftus Road and will fancy their chances of continuing their fine form in 2023.
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QPR duo Leon Balogun and Stefan Johansen are yet to feature under Critchley due to respective heel and calf injuries and they are unlikely to recover in time to face Sheffield United.
Jake Clarke-Salter and Andre Dozzell are both doubtful after missing the defeat against Luton through illness and the pair will be assessed ahead of kickoff on Monday.
Critchley is expected to make minimal changes to his first XI, with Willock potentially coming in for either Tyler Roberts or Olamide Shodipo.
As for Sheffield United, Rhian Brewster, Rhys Norrington-Davies (both hamstring), John Fleck (leg), Ismaila Coulibaly (knee) and Jack O'Connell (ankle) are all ruled out due to injury.
However, the Blades could be boosted by the returns of Oli McBurnie and Ben Osborn, with Heckingbottom confirming that the pair have made progress in their recovery from respective ankle and hamstring injuries.
The visitors will be able to welcome back John Egan from suspension, and the Irishman is expected to slot into the back three alongside Anel Ahmedhodzic and Ciaran Clark, while McAtee and Iliman Ndiaye are set to provide support in attack for Billy Sharp.
Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:
Dieng; Laird, Dickie, Dunne, Paal; Field, Iroegbunam; Roberts, Chair, Willock; Dykes
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Clark; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Stevens; McAtee, Ndiaye; Sharp
We say: Queens Park Rangers 0-2 Sheffield United
QPR have failed to score in their last two home matches and they may struggle to breach a resilient Sheffield United backline, who have conceded fewer goals (22) than any other side in the Championship so far this season.
The Blades are in high spirits at present and they should have enough quality in their side to secure a routine win to kick-start 2023 in positive fashion.
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