Few would have expected QPR to emerge as promotion challengers after they collected only two points from their final six fixtures last season.
The Hoops currently possess the Championship’s second-strongest defence, conceding only seven goals across their opening eight matches. Their sole loss came at home against Middlesbrough in a contest where the R’s could easily have earned at least a draw.
Their main weakness has been turning opportunities into goals.
QPR have registered 261 touches inside the opposing penalty area and earned 55 corners, ranking second in the league in both categories. However, their 7.3% shot-conversion rate places them 20th among the division’s 24 clubs.
Stoke responded to three consecutive defeats at the start of the campaign by collecting 13 points from their following five matches, leaving them only four points behind the leaders.
Mark Robins faced considerable scrutiny after his side gained just one point from the last six games of the previous season and fell to 17th, despite challenging for promotion before Christmas. The outlook now appears far more positive for the Potters.
They sit one point below West Brom, who have climbed from last season’s bottom four into the current top five, even after suffering defeat against Wolves in their most recent outing.
Lincoln have made an impressive return to the second tier after a 65-year absence, beginning the campaign strongly under a new coaching team.
Although they share the division’s lowest scoring total, the League One champions have recorded four clean sheets in eight matches, matching Swansea for the league’s best tally. Their 11 points leave them only two points outside the top six, despite widespread predictions that they would finish last.
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