SOCCER FOOTBALL 24H

QPR on a run that is hard to ignore Blackburn  2.42  v QPR  3.20 ; The Draw  3.40 One team that has made the most of a tight table and a  positive change  in fortunes is Steve McLaren's Queens Park Rangers. The ink was arguably 90 minutes from being applied to McLaren's P45 after a disastrous start to the season saw QPR lose their first four matches and the fans far from happy. It is unfortunate that McLaren has become  most famous  for a bad Dutch accent and an umbrella. He is now proving once again that he knows how to make a football team tick. Loaning in  Tomer Hemed  and  Nahki Wells  added bite in attack and the former England boss has shored up a defence that leaked 13 goals in those opening four defeats. QPR have since claimed seven clean sheets in the 11 Championship games - as many as they managed in the entire 2017/18 league season. QPR are  unbeaten  in five games, including four wins, meaning t...

Aston Villa v Bolton Friday November 2, 19:45 Live on Sky Sports Aston Villa suffer consecutive defeats Aston Villa  were left frustrated at Loftus Road last Friday night as the Claret & Blue couldn't find a way past QPR.  Dean Smith 's side fell to their second successive defeat, going down 1-0 in the capital, despite dominating possession and producing an encouragingly attacking performance. Jack Grealish  came closest to scoring for the Villans, hitting the post with a long-range free-kick, whilst  Tammy Abraham  deflected a free-kick wide and  Yannick Bolasie  was also denied as Villa sought an equaliser. Grealish and  John McGinn  fired in efforts from distance but the Second City were unable to find a leveller. Birkir Bjarnason 's unlikely to be involved having hobbled off with a groin complaint - Glenn Whelan and Conor Hourihane are vying for recalls in central midfield. Elsewhere,  Albert Adoma h is rated doubtf...

Middlesbrough v Derby Saturday October 27, 12:30 Live on Sky Sports Middlesbrough aiming for top spot Middlesbrough  relinquished their position as Championship table-toppers on Tuesday after the Teessiders were held at home by newly-promoted Rotherham. The Millers had previously failed to pick up a point on their travels but managed to soak up Boro's pressure and frustrate Tony Pulis' troops at the Riverside. Martin Braithwaite  fluffed his line when one-on-one for the hosts in the first-half and  Britt Assombalonga  failed to connect from five yards in Middlesbrough's best efforts. Overall, the home side had 65% possession at the Riverside and 20 shots to their opponents' eight, but hit the target just five times. Pulis threw on  Jordan Hugill  and  Rudy Gestede  as they chased a late goal, but Boro failed to conjure up any outstanding openings, and were far too reliant upon set-pieces. The Boro boss bemoaned his team's lack of a c...

QPR v Aston Villa Friday October 26, 19:45 Live on Sky Sports QPR pierce the top-half QPR  moved into the top half of the Championship table with their  third win in four  as they convincingly saw off Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at Loftus Road on Tuesday.  Tomer Hemed nodded Rangers ahead before half-time before  Luke Freeman  doubled the lead and substitute  Nahki Wells  confirmed victory late on. Steve McClaren 's men enjoyed just 37% of the ball but were by far the more threatening in possession. Even so, young goalkeeper  Joe Lumley  made a number of smart saves to keep a  third clean sheet in four  for the R's, as well as sixth shutout in 10 outings since the hosts started with a four-match losing streak. McClaren named an unchanged team on Tuesday night but could be forced into a couple of changes as the Londoners prepare for a third Championship clash in six days. Veteran  Geoff Cameron  may be replaced i...