Julien Stephan is facing shock QPR issue right now | OneFootball

The Hoops have gone from one of this season's entertainers to a side devoid of creativity in front of goal

Queens Park Rangers shared the points in yet another 0-0 draw on Saturday against Charlton Athletic, marking their third goalless stalemate in 2026.

In comparison, the Hoops drew 0-0 just twice in the opening 26 games of the campaign and, to many, were seen as one of the more entertaining sides in the division due to their electric frontline, but also due to their lacklustre defensive displays, too.

So far this season, QPR have scored at least three times on six separate occasions, and on the flip side, have conceded at least three goals in five different games this season.

However, barring a routine 3-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday and a dramatic late 3-2 defeat against Wrexham, it's been relatively boring score-wise at QPR this calendar year.

R's boss, Julien Stephan, will be pleased with his side adding three more clean sheets in their last five games, but he'll be desperate to rectify this attacking issue sooner rather than later.

QPR's attacking bluntness stems from Rumarn Burrell's injury

Ultimately, QPR haven't looked the same in front of goal since Rumarn Burrell's injury.

The former Burton Albion man, who was playing in the third tier in Scotland during the 2023/24 campaign, has emerged as one of, if not the most important player, in Julien Stephan's side this season.

Burrell has netted 10 in 26 games so far, including one early on in the 3-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday in early January, before he had to be withdrawn after suffering a contact injury, and he won't be seen until March.

In the five league games that have followed, QPR have scored four goals, but have fired blanks in three of them.

While Julien Stephan will be happy with just one defeat in that stretch, and a come-from-behind win against Coventry City, too, the dropped points in goalless draws against Stoke City, Oxford United and Charlton will be frustrating, especially in the latter two, as the Yellows and Addicks are battling down near the bottom of the division.

What's intriguing is that these stalemates have all come away from home. QPR don't have an issue with attacking and scoring goals at Loftus Road, but the Hoops really miss Burrell's pace and clinical nature in counter-attacking situations on the road, where they'll be expected to have less of the ball and create fewer chances.

It won't be another month until the Jamaican international is back in action, and Stephan and the rest of his side must find a way to generate an attacking edge on the road, while keeping their strong defensive performances along the way.

QPR have the manpower to overcome attacking frustration

Hoops fans can't wait for Burrell to return, but in the interim, they should have enough attacking talent to get themselves over the line.

Richard Kone netted in QPR's big win over Coventry, their only win in the last five games, while midfielders such as Nicolas Madsen and Harvey Vale have gotten in on the act, too.

With the likes of Ilias Chair and Kwame Poku hopeful for a return earlier than Burrell, ideally in the coming weeks, adding to the likes of Kone, Koki Saito, Paul Smyth and Rayan Kolli, there should be enough in Julien Stephan's arsenal to take more than goalless draws away from away games in the near future.

The R's had their taste of what it was like to be in the play-offs back in October, and they've done just about enough to be hovering around the chasing pack heading into the final months of the campaign.

They'll be given a massive boost once Burrell returns, but the focus in February will be on ensuring that they're still, at worst, around four or five points off the top six once that time comes.