Reading and Queens Park Rangers will meet on Friday evening at Loftus Road, hoping to continue their excellent starts to the 2022-23 Championship campaign with kickoff at 10 pm.
The former Aston Villa assistant coach has impressed since taking over at QPR. The Hoops are now only three points behind leaders Sheffield United after 16 points from their last seven games.
Few people would have tipped QPR to collect a win from the same opponents on Tuesday night, but Chris Willock’s goal early in the second half at Bramall Lane kept his side in contention to move level on points with the Blades on Friday night.
Although goals have dried up to a certain extent in recent games, Beale will be delighted with his team’s defensive improvements – QPR has conceded only one goal in four outings.
Reading had had that tag for much of the campaign, but instead, it challenge for promotion when most people predicted more struggles at the opposite end of the table.
Given their recent collapse in form, supporters won’t rest easy until they get closer to 50 points, but optimism should be high after earning a 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Tuesday night.
Jeff Hendrick, an integral part of this side, scored his first goal of the season, denying the Canaries when they had been set to take over at the top.
QPR vs. Reading Head to Head
Both sides have 28 games against each other, with hosts taking eight wins while visitors with nine wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Sheffield 0-1 QPR
- Bristol City 1-2 QPR
- QPR 0-0 Stoke
- Millwall 0-2 QPR
Away
- Reading 1-1 Norwich
- Reading 3-1 Huddersfield
- Wigan 0-1 Reading
- Reading 0-3 Sunderland
QPR Team News
Willock will likely miss out on this game due to the muscle injury he sustained against Sheffield United last time. Lyndon Dykes would be one to benefit, the Scotland international being used down the middle of the attack, while Ilias Chair moves out wide.
Reading Team News
Andy Carroll may drop down to the Reading substitutes’ bench for this game, allowing Lucas Joao to return in the final third. Ince must decide whether to take a risk on Andy Yiadom, who missed the Norwich game with a hamstring injury, while Ovie Ejaria may be considered for his first start since August.
Prediction and Odds
QPR and Leeds can collect points against any opponent, but we feel that QPR will edge this match by the odd goal in three at home.
- Home Win
- Both Teams to Score
- Goals Over 1.5
