QPR and Millwall share same trait that could keep them up: View | OneFootball

The relegation battle in the Championship this season isn’t one for the faint-hearted; with six sides separated by just three points heading into the final stages of the season.

Sheffield Wednesday in 23rd are just a win away from being on the same points total as Plymouth Argyle in 18th at time of writing, with a number of teams finding wins hard to come by at the bottom of the table.

At points like this in a season the difference between relegation and survival can come down to the smallest of advantages, and Millwall and Queens Park Rangers have something in common that could keep them playing in the second tier for at least another season.

Millwall, Queens Park Rangers defensive records

Both the Lions and the Hoops have only conceded 50 league goals this campaign, which is the best of the clubs battling the drop this season, while only Bristol City’s 45 can better them in the bottom half of the table.

That defensive solidity means the margins in games are never too big, and the chance of rescuing a point or even taking all three remains high throughout the 90 minutes.

Ranger’s shot-stopper Asmir Begovic has registered ten clean sheets this season, which puts him in good combany alongside Southampton’s Gavin Bazunu and Angus Gunn of Norwich, with only four goalkeepers in the division providing more shutouts.

Neil Harris’ side have shared net-tending duties between Matija Sarkic and Bartosz Bialkowski this season, with the former’s eight and latter’s four clean sheets seeing the opposition fail to score in 31.6% of their matches in 23/24.

In a recent run of victories which has seen them claim the scalps of Southampton, Birmingham City and Watford, it is clear to see that the Lions have tightened up even more so since Harris retook the reins at the Den, having taken over from the departing Joe Edwards.

10 points from their last 15 available has helped Millwall drag themselves away from the bottom three and give themselves some breathing room; with four points now separating them and Huddersfield Town in 22nd spot.

The returning club legend has whittled games down to occasions of very few chances that have often been settled by a set-piece scenario, with just one of their last five league goals coming from open play.

The most recent victory over Birmingham proves that point explicitly; with the Blues restricted to just one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes, before Japhet Tanganga pops up in injury time to nod in a George Saville corner to earn his side all three points.

QPR find themselves just one point above the dreaded dotted line as it stands, with another shutout against Sunderland at the weekend further improving their defensive record - with the Black Cats failing to hit the target once during the encounter at the Stadium of Light.

Rangers also recorded a 2-1 victory over Leicester City at the start of the month, where they managed to keep one of the league’s most explosive attacking lines fairly quiet on their own turf.

In comparison, only Stoke City’s 53 league goals conceded is anywhere close to the defensive duo’s performance this season, with Birmingham City letting in 59 efforts in 38 matches.

Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town have both picked the ball out the net 61 times, while Plymouth Argyle have been made to pay with their wide-open approach to matches this season with 62 goals conceded.

It is no surprise to see Rotherham United top the statistic for leakiest defence, with the Millers conceding 77 goals - averaging out at more than two a game.

Millwall and QPR Championship run-in

The good news for Rangers is that their next four matches all come against sides in the bottom half of the division, with Birmingham City the visitors to Loftus Road on Good Friday before a trip to Swansea City on Easter Monday.

Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle will be next up for the R’s who will be looking to pick up plenty of points against their relegation rivals, before facing four promotion chasing sides to end their campaign.

Hull City, Preston North End, Leeds United and Coventry City all lie in wait for Marti Cifuentes’ side in their final four fixtures of the season, meaning their defensive attributes will be tested to the max when the most is on the line.

Millwall have an Easter double-header against West Bromwich Albion and Rotherham United to look forward to, before making the trip to fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town at the start of April.

Leicester City, Cardiff City and Sunderland will all be looking to get past the Lions’ stoic defensive rearguard in their next three fixtures, before Plymouth and Swansea try to do the same in the final two fixtures.

If both sides can keep their defensive solidity in the final throes of the Championship season, they will be in with a good chance of playing second tier football in the next campaign as well. With teams leaking goals all over the place at the bottom of the division that ability to eek out a 0-0 or narrow victory can make all the difference once the season comes to a close.