Sunderland v QPR preview: Team news, head-to-head, where to watch, prediction
Sunderland travel to Loftus Road to face QPR in Championship action on Saturday (2 November) as they look to extend their advantage at the top of the table to eight points.
A comfortable victory at the Stadium of Light over Oxford secured another three points and maintained their unbeaten home run.
Having won three in six days prior to this encounter, Regis Le Bris will be hoping his side can carry their momentum on the road.
Preview
The Black Cats have had a remarkable start to the season and will be favourites heading into this game against a side that has won just once and is sitting second bottom.
Wilson Isidor and Jobe Bellingham scored the goals as the Black Cats purred past Oxford. The former earned plaudits from the Yellows’ boss for his excellent volley.
The two games Sunderland have lost this season have both arrived in the form of away games and Le Bris will be hoping they don’t add to that this weekend.
As for QPR, they have had a dismal start to the season, winning just one of their opening 12. Marti Cifuentes guided them to safety last season and even got earmarked as a potential head coach at Sunderland although in hindsight, it appears to have been a dodged bullet.
Form Guide (Championship)
Sunderland: WDWWW
QPR: LLLDD
Head to Head (Championship/EFL Cup)
Sunderland 0-0 QPR (March 2024)
QPR 1-3 Sunderland (September 2023)
QPR 0-3 Sunderland (April 2021)
Sunderland 2-2 QPR (August 2022)
QPR 0-0 Sunderland (October 2021, EFL Cup)
Team news
There are no fresh injury concerns for Le Bris, although several players remain out.
Salis Samed, Niall Huggins, Aji Alese and Jenson Seelt are all absent, while Dan Ballard and Eliezer Mayenda could return to the squad. The latter was seen training mid-week alongside Ahmed Abdullahi.
Trai Hume is one of three players on four yellow cards this season and a booking against QPR would rule him out for their trip to Preston.
QPR will likely have several players missing for the game with Karamoko Dembele and Michael Frey both doubts for the clash.
Former Sunderland and Newcastle midfielder Jack Colback is also expected to miss the game having had a minor surgery for an injury sustained earlier in the season.
Predicted lineups
Sunderland: Patterson, Hume, O’Nien, Mepham, Cirkin, Neil, Jobe, Browne, Roberts, Mundle, Isidor
QPR: Nardi, Clarke-Salter, Dunne, Cook, Saito, Field, Varane, Ashby, Andersen, Chair, Celar
Where to watch?
Sunderland’s encounter with QPR will only be available to watch for customers outside of the UK as per EFL restrictions for 3 pm Saturday kick-offs.
Score prediction: QPR 0-1 Sunderland
The Black Cats will again be favourites for this Championship clash although I don’t see it being as easy as it perhaps looks on paper.
Sunderland should have too much ability in their squad to drop points in a game like this against a side that looks destined for a relegation scrap.
I think the Black Cats will win 1-0.
In other Sunderland news, Le Bris has made a promotion admission.
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