Rangers boss Neil Warnock believes that a further ten points will be enough to secure promotion to the Premier League – they currently sit as league leaders and after yesterday’s football sees them six points ahead of second placed Norwich City (and ten points in front of third place).
They have stormed up the league since that 3-0 victory at Bramall Lane in the very early stages of the season and just over a fortnight ago boosted their quick fire promotion challenge with a 1-0 win at Doncaster Rovers.
Striker Tommy Smith will be keen to find the back of the net against United; having scored five times this season since his £1,500,000 from Portsmouth last August he is chasing his 100th career goal and is currently on 99.
Queens Park Rangers have no fewer than four former Blades on their books; Paddy Kenny, Shaun Derry, Rob Hulse, Mikele Leigertwood.
Derry joined the Blades from Notts County in a £700,000 transfer deal in January 1998 (by Nigel Spackman) - making his debut days later in a 1-1 home draw with Huddersfield Town, he left United in March 2000 to join Portsmouth having made 73 (+10) starts for United and scored just once in an FA Cup tie.
Hulse was signed by Neil Warnock in July 2006 from Leeds United in a deal worth £2,200,000 - netting on his debut in a 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool before breaking his leg at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea) the following March. He left United after his recovery in July 2008, having made 38 (+15) appearances for the Bramall Lane club, joining Derby County in a £1,750,000 deal - he can also list West Bromwich Albion and Crewe Alexandra as his former clubs.
Mikele Leigertwood; currently on loan at Reading was signed by Neil Warnock for £600,000 in July 2006 (from Crystal Palace), following there promotion to the Premier League.
He stayed at the Lane for just twelve months, joining Queens Park Rangers in a £900,000 deal having made19 (+4) appearances for the Blades. He recently joined Reading on loan and made his Royals debut in the draw against Leeds.
Expected Eleven: Kenny, Gorkss, Hall, Orr, Hill, Derry, Ephraim, Routledge, Faurlin, Smith, Helguson.