On Saturday, Queens Park Rangers and Charlton Athletic drew 0-0 for the third time in 2026.

In comparison, the Hoops drew 0-0 just twice in the first 26 games of the season and were regarded as one of the more entertaining sides in the division, owing to their electrifying frontline but also to their lackluster defensive performances.

QPR has scored at least three goals six times this season, while conceding at least three goals in five games.

However, except from a simple 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday and a dramatic late 3-2 setback against Wrexham, QPR’s scoring has been relatively monotonous this year.

R’s manager, Julien Stephan, will be pleased that his team has kept three more clean sheets in their previous five games, but he will be eager to address this attacking issue as quickly as possible.

QPR’s attacking bluntness derives from Rumarn Burrell’s injury.

Ultimately, QPR haven’t looked the same in front of goal since Rumarn Burrell was injured.

The former Burton Albion player, who was playing in Scotland’s third tier during the 2023/24 season, has emerged as one of, if not the most significant, members of Julien Stephan’s squad this season.

Burrell has 10 goals in 26 games this season, including one early in a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in early January, before being sidelined due to a contact injury and not returning until March.

In the five league games that followed, QPR scored four goals but failed to score in three of them.

While Julien Stephan will be pleased with only one defeat in that stretch, as well as a come-from-behind victory over Coventry City, the dropped points in goalless draws against Stoke City, Oxford United, and Charlton will be frustrating, particularly in the latter two, as the Yellows and Addicks are battling for a spot near the bottom of the division.

What’s interesting is that these stalemates have all occurred away from home. QPR have no problem attacking and scoring goals at Loftus Road, but the Hoops will miss Burrell’s pace and clinical nature in counter-attacking scenarios on the road, when they will be expected to have less possession and create fewer chances.

It will be another month before the Jamaican international returns to action, and Stephan and his teammates must find a method to produce an attacking edge on the road while maintaining excellent defensive performances.

QPR has the manpower to overcome attacking frustrations.

Hoops fans can’t wait for Burrell to return, but in the meantime, they should have enough offensive talent to carry them over the finish line.

Richard Kone scored in QPR’s dramatic win over Coventry, their only one in the last five games, while midfielders Nicolas Madsen and Harvey Vale have also contributed.

With Ilias Chair and Kwame Poku hoping to return earlier than Burrell, ideally in the coming weeks, and the likes of Kone, Koki Saito, Paul Smyth, and Rayan Kolli, Julien Stephan’s arsenal should be sufficient to take more than goalless draws away from away games in the near future.

The Reds had a taste of what it was like to be in the play-offs in October, and they’ve done just enough to be lingering around the chasing group as the season comes to a close.

They’ll get a huge lift when Burrell returns, but the priority in February will be to ensure that they’re still four or five points behind the top six when that time arrives.

Then it’ll be full steam ahead as Julien Stephan’s side attempts to crash the play-off party in May.