Sheffield United vs Queens Park Rangers – Preview | OneFootball

After claiming a victory in the first league game of the season as well as in the midweek Carabao Cup tie, Sheffield United are aiming to carry on their positive momentum on Saturday afternoon as they host Queens Park Rangers.

Queens Park Rangers did exceptionally well under Marti Cifuentes at the back end of last season, winning their final three games of the season which saw them finish six points above the Championship relegation zone. However, they started this term poorly last weekend after losing 3-1 to West Bromwich Albion on home soil.

Transfer business

With the Spanish manager looking to build his own identity with the QPR squad it was inevitable that there’d be plenty of departures over the summer. They have lost some notable names in midfield, who despite being in their 20’s still had lots of experience behind them at this level. One player they released was Andre Dozzell, who was a trialist for the Blades in pre-season before joining Portsmouth.

The R’s have added some interesting loan signings that have caught my eye and those are Karamoko Dembele and Koki Saito, two players that have the ability to drive the team on and get the fans out of their seats.

Dembele of course is no stranger to English football – his loan spell at Blackpool last season was very successful having made 13 assists and scoring eight goals.

Team news

United could hand a debut to new signing Michael Cooper between the sticks. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who’s soon to be announced by the club, will likely start on the bench.

Jamie Shackleton and Sam McCallum are doubts for this game, while Femi Seriki may be touch and go after going off on Tuesday night with a minor groin injury.

QPR will likely be without their key man Ilias Chair once more as well as experienced defender Morgan Fox. They may hand debuts to recent arrivals Dembele and Saito.

Updates to follow.

PRESTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Gustavo Hamer of Sheffield United celebrates with Vinicius Souza and Callum O’Hare after scoring their second goal during the Sky Bet Championship game between Sheffield United and Preston North End.

Sheffield United’s star player for this match

Last time out, against Preston North End, I singled out Gustavo Hamer being the one who can impact the scoresheet and he did that by executing a wonderful 25 yard lob over the keeper. This time, I’m picking Kieffer Moore to be that player.

Despite a somewhat average competitive debut by his own standards, Moore still showed what his style of play can bring to the Blades this season. And given his aerial prowess and strength, he should be licking his lips heading into Saturday’s game.

Last weekend the QPR defence gave up a hat-trick to West Brom’s Josh Maja – all three of them came from within ten yards out, and two of them were headers. Let’s face it, Maja isn’t exactly known for his aerial threat given his size. Whereas, three of Moore’s eight goals last season (one for Bournemouth in the Premier League) were in fact headers. So this could be a likely route to goal for the Blades this weekend.

QPR’s star player for this match

Having only just signed this week for QPR, Karamoko Dembele will be hoping to make his debut for his temporary new club at the weekend, and he certainly has all the tools to cause United problems. If the on loan Stade Brest forward does play a part then Cifuentes will be relying on him to carry the team’s creativity and flair that Ilias Chair usually brings.

In his loan spell in League One last season he scored eight goals, three of them from outside the box – so even if United defend their box well there’s still a danger that he could curl one in from distance with his left foot. The 21-year-old also averaged two key passes per game last term.

My view

Queens Park Rangers played quite a few first string players in the Carabao Cup in midweek whereas Sheffield United didn’t so it will be interesting to see the opening stages of the game to see who’s the more energetic of the two out of possession.

Despite finishing seventh-bottom last season, QPR actually conceded less goals than six teams that finished in the top ten. On the flip side of that, they were one of the worst teams at the other end of the pitch.

The Blades weren’t troubled at all last week against Preston – conceding just two shots on goal on opening night and they were both tame efforts. And it has to be said that the back line also dealt with crosses fairly comfortably.

PRESTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Sheffield United players celebrate following the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End FC and Sheffield United FC at Deepdale.

Prediction

Last week I wrote that the Preston game was one of the easiest first games of the season that United could’ve hoped for, and it played out that way in truth. I do feel like this game though can tell us a lot about our team. QPR aren’t a spectacular team, but they certainly aren’t cannon fodder either – they’re a typical mid-table Championship team that will give some of the better teams “a hard spar” on their good day.

That being said, I think it’s quite obvious Sheffield United have the advantage in the middle of the park, and if QPR do match United’s 4-2-3-1 shape then really it’s man for man with that midfield five. In which case the Blades should be dominating, especially with those players being rested.

The thing I’d be concerned about if I was a QPR fan is the fact you’ve just given up two headed goals to Josh Maja versus West Brom, and now you’ll likely be facing a giant in Kieffer Moore who will want to make his home debut a special one.

With that in mind I think Sheffield United win this match by a couple of goals, but I do think it will be a harder game than the score line suggests come the full time whistle.