Sunderland vs QPR

On Saturday afternoon, Sunderland welcome Queens Park Rangers, aiming to secure a confidence-lifting victory before the Championship playoffs begin.

Currently sitting fourth in the standings, the Black Cats face a QPR side languishing in 15th, with their head coach currently on gardening leave.

Regis Le Bris has brought a refreshing energy to Sunderland in his debut season, consistently keeping them in the top six.

Yet, despite the excitement of clinching a playoff spot with weeks to go, Sunderland are grappling with a four-game losing streak.

Defeats to Swansea City, Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers, and Oxford United have seen them score just once during this run.

Over their last nine matches, they’ve managed only four goals, raising concerns that their promotion hopes may be fading.

Still, Le Bris will see this match as a chance for his squad to regain momentum, especially as their only three home losses this season have come in their last six games at the Stadium of Light.

QPR, meanwhile, are in turmoil ahead of their trip north, with head coach Marti Cifuentes sidelined, likely due to his representatives’ talks with West Bromwich Albion.

There is a bitter taste about how the Spaniard's time may end despite solidifying QPR's position in the second division of English football, even if the two sides have not officially parted ways yet, it now feels likely.

Despite QPR's recent run of nine points from six games, the team's current ranking of 15th represents an improvement over their 18th-place finish from the previous season.

Conversely, the Hoops lost to Burnley 5-0 at home the previous time around, and it is unclear how they will respond to that humiliation at Loftus Road.