QPR up to fourth in Championship table after blunting Blades

Michael Beale was delighted after QPR beat league leaders Sheffield United – and stated “they are the best team we have played”.

Chris Willock scored the winner just six minutes into the second half as the R’s kept a third clean sheet in four Championship matches.

The Hoops are fourth in the second tier of English football with 21 points – three points behind their table-topping opponents.

Beale said: “They are the best team we have played in terms of the way that they play and the intensity.

“I expected that. They are a team of players that have played in the Premier League and they have a been on a really good run, 10 unbeaten. We knew we were going to have to ride the wave.

“We weren’t as good in the first half, in terms of our belief and in possession, and we had to have a really good sort out at half time.

“In the first 15 minutes of the second half we were excellent. We scored a really good goal when you look at how many passes were involved in it, so I am delighted with that. We had to go to the well for each other tonight and really dig deep.

“It wasn’t all backs-to-the-wall. We had some really big moments on the counter-attack and the biggest chance of the first half fell to Ilias Chair, and the biggest chance of the second half fell to Lyndon [Dykes] and then Tyler [Roberts].”

Match-winner Willock came off injured just four minutes after his goal.

Beale added: “I am hoping he felt something and has come off at the right time.

“There were no signs, in terms of his recovery from the game [against Bristol City], and the numbers he has been running that he was at risk – so if it is a bad one I am devastated for him. But let’s not get too up or too down, let’s wait and see.”