This Week's Opposition: Queens Park Rangers

Jake Smith takes a look into Portsmouth's next Championship test.

Off the back of a big victory at Oxford United last time out, only Pompey’s second maximum on the road all season, we embark on a return to home soil to take on the only other team the Blues have beaten away from home so far this campaign; Queens Park Rangers.

MANAGER

The Hoops are led by Spanish head coach Martí Cifuentes, who took over from Gareth Ainsworth in October 2023.

Since coming in, the 42-year-old steered QPR to 18th place and safety last season, so far achieving a win percentage of 35.7 from 70 games in charge.

ONE TO WATCH

Featuring in all 32 league fixtures since arriving on loan from Belgian Pro League outfit Lommel in August, Japanese midfielder Kōki Saitō is pinpointed as one to keep an eye on this weekend.

Saitō has registered 2 goals and 2 assists in the Championship up to this point and predominantly plays on the left wing, causing opposition defences all sorts of problems down the flank with pace on the counter attack and a desire to run at a defender.

TOP SCORER

With 6 Championship goals and 7 in all competitions so far this season, Swiss forward Michael Frey is currently QPR’s leading scorer.

The 30-year-old has made 21 league appearances and missed out on 2 months of football between October and December due to a recurring calf problem.

Frey hasn’t scored in his last 2 games, last finding the back of the net in a 2-1 win against Blackburn Rovers on the 4th of February.

CURRENT FORM

Whilst a bit hit and miss recently, QPR’s season has been somewhat revived following a poor start.

They now sit in 13th place with 44 points after 33 games - 5 points off the Play-Off places and 15 clear of the drop zone.

Martí Cifuentes’ side have suffered 3 defeats and recorded 2 wins in their last 5 outings.

Last time out on Friday the 14th, they inflicted a 4-0 defeat on relegation-threatened Derby County live on tele.

Portsmouth picked up their first win of the campaign in the reverse fixture at Loftus Road back in October, beating The Hoops by 2 goals to 1 thanks to a strike from Freddie Potts and a Callum Lang penalty.

Will it be a third straight win for the Blues and a first league double of the campaign?

Be sure to tune in for all of the unmissable action when Pompey Live returns with full coverage of Portsmouth vs Queens Park Rangers this Saturday (February 22nd) afternoon from 2pm.

Kick-off: 3pm!