Queens Park Rangers get their season back underway against the Championship’s bottom club Barnsley. The R’s still have an outside chance of finishing in the play-off places and will target this game as an opportunity to boost their playoff chances.
Meanwhile, the Tykes are in desperate need of three points to ignite their survival bid. Gerhard Struber’s team resume the season seven points adrift of safety with nine matches to play.
Queens Park Rangers Host Barnsley
A Good Opportunity for QPR to Continue Their Excellent Form
QPR get their season back underway against struggling Barnsley. Mark Warburton’s side are looking to build on their excellent form prior to the league suspension.
The R’s were in excellent form, going six unbeaten and collecting 12 points in that run. Their play-off hopes are firmly alive, but they need to keep winning to keep their chances alive. QPR head into this weekend six points adrift of sixth place Preston North End.
The form of Eberechi Eze will be vital to QPR’s chances of success between now and the end of the season. The talented playmaker has sparkled under Mark Warburton and he will be their key man once again this weekend.
Barnsley’s Survival Charge Needs to Click Into Gear
Barnsley head to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium knowing three points are imperative to their hopes of staying in the Championship.
The Tykes have shown improvement under Gerhard Struber, but they have continued to concede far too many goals. Their defensive frailties have cost them points and prior to the league suspension, their form had dipped, having lost their last two league games. However, Struber will have used the break to assess the squad and his team and plot a way to safety.
They may miss centre back Bambo Diaby as they continue to wait for a decision from the FA regarding a doping investigation. It is unclear if and when he will return to action.
The Previous Meeting
Barnsley beat QPR in a pulsating, eight-goal thriller when the two sides last met. The Tykes won 5-3 with striker Conor Chaplin scoring a hat-trick for Barnsley. The game was Gerhard Struber’s second win as manager.
Prediction
It could a weekend of uncertainty in the Championship as teams begin to adapt to the current normalities of football.
QPR head into this game in excellent form having gone six unbeaten. They must win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Barnsley have lost their last two but know a win is imperative for their survival chances.
Prediction: QPR 2-0 Barnsley
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