Blades Boss Demands Response Against Queens Park Rangers | OneFootball

Sheffield United make the trip to West London on Saturday afternoon as they face Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, with both sides desperate to respond after midweek setbacks.

QPR come into the fixture nursing fresh wounds after a humbling 5-0 defeat to Southampton. That heavy loss means the R’s have now conceded nine goals in their last three matches, a worrying defensive trend at a crucial stage of the campaign.

There was genuine optimism surrounding Queens Park Rangers heading into the season, particularly given the attacking talent assembled on paper. However, inconsistency and a mounting injury list have derailed momentum. Kwame Poku is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, although a return may not be too far away. Karamoko Dembele is out with an ACL injury, while Ilias Chair has been struggling with a soft tissue issue since December.

United, meanwhile, experienced their own emotional swing this week. After riding the high of defeating and relegating bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, the Blades were brought back down to earth on Wednesday night. League leaders Coventry City came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory at Bramall Lane, leaving Sheffield United nine points adrift of sixth-placed Wrexham. It was a result that dented momentum just as belief was building. Now, with the season entering its decisive phase, Chris Wilder’s side know they must put together a sustained run if they are to close the gap.

The Blades boss will once again be without Kalvin Phillips due to suspension, but Joe Rothwell returns to contention after serving a three-match ban. Sam McCallum and Tom Davies remain the only injured players in the official squad, giving Wilder options despite the demanding three-game week.

Sheffield United Boss Issues Warning Ahead of QPR Test

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Wilder is relishing the trip to the capital but is under no illusions about the challenge that awaits.

“We’re expecting their best, knowing what can happen in this division and taking into account what happened against a really talented Southampton side that can do that to you,” he said.

“Their manager said after the game that they’d started pretty well but then lost a couple of key players to injury. They chased the game and got punished, but we’ve seen their results at home.

“They turned Coventry over and beaten some top sides at home. I personally enjoy going there and our supporters do too; it has been sold out for weeks, so we appreciate that backing which has always been really positive.

“It is a day out in London and hopefully we can reward them with a positive result, but it has always been a difficult place to go. We’ve never gone there and comfortably won and I’m expecting a reaction from a team that was put to the sword in midweek.”

Blades Boss on Recent Results And Play-off Hopes

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Patrick Bamford of Sheffield United celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday at Bramall Lane on February 22, 2026 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)

Wilder also acknowledged the physical and emotional toll of the past week.

“It is the back end of a three-game week so we are looking at options and situations and who can go again. There was an awful amount of effort put into the last two games; emotionally last Sunday, playing the second half with ten men, and a big effort physically on Wednesday night where I thought we were outstanding for the majority of the game.

“We are at the business end of the season; we know where we want to be and the players understand that. We know we’ve got to put a run together.

“We had two runs last season; I think it was eight wins and three draws in 11 games, then we won seven out of nine, so it can happen in this division. It isn’t the Premier League and we have the opportunity in the group to go and win football matches.”

As things stand, both Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield United are considerable longshots to make the play-offs. Yet, a win for either side on Saturday could be the start of a good run which gets them in and amongst come the final weeks of the season.