Sheffield United vs QPR Predictions

• Sheffield United opened the campaign with a 2-0 win at Preston
• Queens Park Rangers lost 3-1 at home to West Brom in their opening fixture
• Gustavo Hamer has scored in six of his last 10 Championship appearances (including play-offs)

Wilder has sharpened up the Blades’ act 

Sheffield United’s bid to bounce back to the Premier League got off to an encouraging start at Preston last Friday with enough evidence to suggest they can repeat the win at home to Queens Park Rangers this weekend.

Chris Wilder and his recruitment staff have performed major surgery on an aging side that lacked staying power in the top flight last season, reducing the age profile in key positions and finding a system that appears to suit the squad.

Wilder’s tactics were hard to pin down last season, albeit he was often left without almost half of his first-team through injury at times. But he has gone with a 4-2-3-1 system this term after signing a Championship-proven number 10 to provide the ammunition for experienced target man Kieffer Moore.

Chair’s absence could leave Rangers low in the table 

Goals from home-grown talent Ollie Arblaster and ex-Coventry star Gustavo Hamer got them the points at Deepdale and the Brazilian looks a fair bet to follow up in this fixture given his record of six goals in his last 10 matches at this level.

Where QPR’s goals will come from this season is anyone’s guess, particularly during Ilias Chair’s injury-enforced absence. Summer signing Zan Celar got the nod up front over Lydon Dykes against the Baggies, but he hardly had a sniff of a chance.

Sheffield United should win this contest and they could take it by a margin if everything clicks on the day.  R’s boss Marti Cifuentes did a great job last season, but his side look ill-equipped to deal with the sort of pressure the Blades will bring.