EFL confirm QPR vs Sheffield United referee decision

Sheffield United are due at Loftus Road on Saturday as they seek to continue their Championship promotion drive.

The officiating crew for Sheffield United’s Championship contest against Queens Park Rangers has been confirmed, with Thomas Kirk to take command of his first Blades game this season.

United will be frantic to experience an immediate return to winning ways when they go to Loftus Road on Saturday, with the scars of Monday’s 3-1 defeat to Leeds United still raw.

Chris Wilder’s side overran their promotion rivals for significant portions but after going 1-0 up early on, found themselves trapped back before conceding three goals in the final 18 minutes.

QPR are also seeking to rebound back from a disheartening defeat, having lost 2-1 at in-form Portsmouth last Saturday.

Marti Cifuentes’ side still have an outside chance of reaching the play-offs but they will need to thread a meaningful run together, with eight places and seven points between them and Blackburn Rovers in sixth.

 

QPR vs United Referee Verified

Saturday’s meeting at Loftus Road will offer both an opportunity to rebuild momentum and, ahead of the all-important clash, the EFL have verified Kirk’s appointment as referee.

He will be assisted by Alex James and Sam Lewis with fourth official John Busby the man between both dugouts.

Kirk is predominantly a League One official, with just under half of his 21 games this season involving third-tier teams.

The official has actually been in command of more League Two matches than those in the Championship, for which he has been in the middle on just four occasions.

With the proviso of a limited sample size, Kirk blasts for 23.25 infractions per game on average in the Championship, while brandishing 4.75 yellow cards per 90 minutes.

Those numbers increase ever so slightly for League One games but are approximately the same, suggesting it is a clear reflection of his leniency.

 

QPR vs United Personnel News

hris Wilder is yet to communicate with the media ahead of Saturday’s voyage but will expect to have Gustavo Hamer back available from the start, following his return off the substitute on Monday.

The Blades manager was probed on his decision to suspend talisman Hamer following that Yorkshire derby defeat, maintaining the decision was taken along with counsel from the medical staff.

“I’m not daft,” said Wilder on Hamer’s predicament.

“He’s been our best player and if I felt it was right to play him, then I would have done.

It wasn’t just me [that made the decision] – it was taken from a medical point of view with the conditioners and the physios.

If we could, of I’d have tried to get him out there for 60 minutes. I’m not stupid.”

Hamer and Tom Cannon each received minutes off the substitute and so should be alright to start at Loftus Road, if Wilder requires them to.

Kieffer Moore also returned for the first time since New Year’s Day, albeit he played just one minute, brought on after United fell behind.

QPR will expect to have winger Lucas Andersen available for Saturday’s visit of United, having not featured at all since the turn of the year, while Kader Dembele received his first minute since October last weekend.

Koki Saito is a concern after sustaining a strike to the face against Portsmouth.