FRESH from their midweek defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the Carabao Cup, Sunderland will look to defend their unbeaten start to the Championship side against Queens Park Rangers in what Alex Neil says will be a 'tough test' for his side.

The Black Cats earned themselves a hard fought draw on the opening day of the season against Coventry City before coming from behind to beat Bristol City last weekend.

Under new management, the West London side are harbouring hopes of mounting a push for the play-offs this season and put the sword to Middlesbrough last weekend with a 3-2 win on home soil.

Even though there is a new era for their opponents this season, Neil has been impressed with what he's seen from the Hoops for a while. He said: “Michael Beale went to Liverpool and then went to Rangers and they had a specific way of playing and he’s took a lot of facets from there to QPR. They do it a lot different to other teams and I’ve see a lot of teams at this level.

“I thought QPR under Mark Warburton last season, for large parts, were very good. I think they were disappointed they didn’t make the top six and I think they will be aiming to get back to that level.

“They’ve had a bit of churn as most squads do in the summer but I think they’ve signed some really good players and got some really good young players coming through. It will be a real tough test this one. They will be looking to finish top half as far as I’m concerned."

QPR stormed their way into an early three goal lead against Boro at the Kayan Prince Foundation Stadium last week. The Sunderland boss has done his homework on this afternoon's opponents and found that their fast start wasn't a true reflection of the game.

However, that hasn't given room for complacency as he continued: “Sometimes when you see teams winning 3-0, people make presumptions in the fact that they started like a house on fire and they went and peppered the goal and score three. That wasn’t the case.

“I watched the game and there wasn’t much in it. Then it was a case of a great goal and two set play goals, then you go ‘how did that end up 3-0?’ That’s the way the game went.

“What it does show you is dangerous they can be. Whether it’s a set piece or open play. That’s the difference in levels. When you move up the levels, there are more clinical players and you can get damaged from one mistake. One error and the ball ends up in the back of the net."

German winger Leon Dajaku will miss the game at the Stadium of Light due to a thigh injury.