On Saturday at 15:00 GMT, Stoke City will aim for their fourth consecutive victory as they host QPR at the Bet365 Stadium.
Following back-to-back wins at Hull and Norwich, along with a 1-0 triumph over Coventry in the FA Cup third round last Saturday, the Potters have climbed back to eighth place in the Championship, just one point shy of the play-off spots.
In contrast, QPR sits three positions lower and two points behind, having managed only one point from their last four away matches, including a 2-1 defeat to West Ham in the FA Cup last weekend.
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Stoke City has emerged victorious in their last two home league encounters against QPR, winning 1-0 in the 2023/24 season and 3-1 in 2024/25.
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QPR aims to achieve their first league double over Stoke since accomplishing it in the 2019/20 season.
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Stoke has commenced 2026 with two league wins against Hull and Norwich. The last time they began a calendar year with three consecutive wins was in 2004.
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QPR striker Richard Kone scored three goals in his first four Championship appearances but has only netted twice in the subsequent 20 matches, maintaining a shot conversion rate of just 5.3% in that span.
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Sorba Thomas of Stoke City is the leading player in the Championship this season for goal involvement, boasting 9 goals and 6 assists, although he has yet to score and has provided only one assist in seven outings against QPR.
[BBC]