This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
When Mark Warburton took over at QPR back in May, things looked far from convincing at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
Steve McClaren had just been sacked following a run of just one win in 15 league games, and the R’s disappointingly went on to finish the campaign in 19th place.
To make matters worse, star man Luke Freeman – who scored seven goals and recorded six assists in 2018/19 – left the club and became Sheffield United’s club-record signing.
Warburton had a lot to do, and he has coped admirably.
The R’s currently sit 5th in the Championship having won seven of their 13 league games, scoring 23 goals along the way – they sit just three points off the top of the table.
However, their fine campaign is being tainted by one very concerning statistic, one that needs sorting as soon as possible.
QPR are the only side in the Championship yet to keep a clean sheet this season. The ONLY side.
Out of all 24 teams, everyone else has managed to keep a shutout apart from the R’s. That includes 24th-placed Barnsley, a side with just one win all season who have shipped 25 goals along the way – worryingly, they are the only side to have conceded more goals than QPR.
As things stand, the likes of Nahki Wells, Jordan Hugill and Eberechi Eze are masking Yoann Barbet and others’ errors at the back.
Wells has seven goals in eight league starts. Hugill has seven goals in 10 starts. Eze has an impressive six goals and three assists in 13 starts – the trio are certainly helping to paper over the cracks at the back.
Sooner or later, the goals will dry up over the course of a gruelling 46-game Championship season, where defensive solidity will be needed to grind out results.
It has been an impressive season so far, but if Warburton cannot figure out a way to put together some clean sheets, it’s only a matter of time before it all comes crumbling down.
