Exclusive: Whether Sky pundit thinks QPR can get into the play-offs under Julien Stephan | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has spoken to FLW about QPR’s chances of getting into the play-offs this season.

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has admitted QPR will have “one eye” on targeting a play-off place due to the Championship being a wide open race.

The R’s have made a great start to the new second-tier term under Julien Stephan, with their impressive 3-1 victory away at Wrexham lifting them up to 12th place in the table.

This has seen the West London outfit take seven points from their opening five games, with just a further two points separating them from a play-off place, as Coventry City sit in sixth on nine points.

QPR will be looking to keep their early-season form going when they host high-flying Stoke City at Loftus Road on Saturday lunchtime, while games against Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United will be targeted to take maximum points from in the coming weeks.

After spending 11 consecutive years in the second-tier since their relegation from the Premier League in 2015, Lee Hendrie has spoken to Football League World about whether QPR can challenge for promotion back to the big time via the play-offs come the end of the campaign.

Lee Hendrie reveals “tough ask” verdict over QPR, play-off chances

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, ex-Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has admitted it will be a “tough ask” for QPR to secure a play-off place come the end of the season, but the club should have “one eye” on it due to the weakness of teams in the division.

Hendrie said: “It’s an early one to call really, given we’re only in the early stages of the season, but when you’re looking at this season, they’ve picked up seven points so far and are within touching distance of a play-off spot.

“I don’t feel like the Championship is as strong as what it has been in previous seasons and I relate and put that down to the teams that have come down (from the Premier League), I know they haven’t started well, and I think there’s a chance for one club to jump out of the mid-table pack and go put some pressure on the play-off stage as the season goes by.

“Could QPR do so? First season for him (Julien Stephan) in charge, they’ve got some decent players and at Christmas time, you’ll start to figure out the pattern of what they can do and where they can go this season.

“I’m pretty sure they’ll have one eye on the play-offs if that’s the case, but I do think there is a building process there, like it has been for the last few years.

“It might be a tough ask but finishing better than what they did last season would be a real bonus.”

QPR can hit their stride and push up the Championship table

The alarm bells would have well and truly been ringing after matchday three in the Championship after the R’s were winless and on the receiving end of a 7-1 hammering away at Coventry City.

But there has been a much-needed response from the playing squad, securing an important home victory over Charlton Athletic before going to the Racecourse Ground after the international break and claiming an unexpected 3-1 win to lift them up into the top half of the table.

A continuation of those positive results is needed if QPR are to remain in the top six conversation, and their expectations for the season ahead could well be determined when they host Stoke City, who look like they could be involved in the promotion mix themselves this term under Mark Robins.

Summer arrival Richard Kone has been key to their upturn in form too, netting against both Charlton and Wrexham, making an immediate impact in the blue and white hoops.

If they can maintain healthy ammunition at the top end of the pitch, then QPR fans could start to get excited over a potentially special season, but that meeting with Stoke could well answer the early questions of where their campaign lies.