Stoke City v Queens Park Rangers: play-off push meets top-half bid | OneFootball

Stoke City host Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on Saturday, 17 January 2026 in Stoke-on-Trent, with both sides targeting momentum in a tight play-off race.

Queens Park Rangers edged the reverse fixture 1-0 in September, but Stoke City arrive with tailwind and home advantage as the table bunches around the top six.

Form points to a narrow margin. Stoke City have won their past three matches across all competitions, including league victories at Hull City and Norwich City. Queens Park Rangers beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 in their last league outing, though they lost at West Ham United in the FA Cup.

Team news could shape the balance. Stoke City list several injuries, including Aaron Cresswell, Lewis Baker and Robert Bozenik. Queens Park Rangers are without key names such as Rumarn Burrell, Jake Clarke-Salter and Illias Chair. Burrell has 10 league goals this season.

The match-up may hinge on control versus openness. Stoke City have conceded 23 league goals with 10 clean sheets, averaging 0.9 conceded per game, and could lean on Sorba Thomas, who has nine league goals and six assists. The visitors have been involved in higher-scoring games, scoring 38 and conceding 39, at 1.5 for and 1.5 against per game, and may look to stretch the game in transition.

Stoke City sit on 40 points in eighth and a win could move them into the play-off places. Queens Park Rangers have 38 points in 11th and victory would push them closer to the top six and the top half.