This Week's Opposition: Queens Park Rangers

We take a in-depth look at the Blues' challenge in matchday 1 of the new league campaign.

The first match of the new Championship season beckons and it’s Queens Park Rangers the opponents for Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

MANAGER

French former Rennes and Strasbourg manager Julien Stéphan is the QPR boss.

The 45-year-old was appointed last summer and has since won 16 out of 49 competitive games in charge, drawing 11 and losing 22.

ONE TO WATCH

Keep an eye on Moroccan attacking midfielder Ilias Chair, who is the club’s number 10.

The 28-year-old had a campaign plagued with injury last time out, suffering 2 major muscle and-calf-related setbacks. Determined to get back to his brilliant best, Chair could be a big asset this time out.

TOP SCORER

Despite a 1-1 draw in the First Round of the Carabao Cup last weekend, no Hoops player has actually scored a goal this season - Their only goal was converted into the back of his own net by Millwall midfielder Mark Sykes in that stalemate, which QPR went on to lose on penalties, missing all 4 of their spot kicks.

Last term’s top scorer was striker Richard Kone with 11 across all competitions - He wears the number 22.

CURRENT FORM

The aforementioned defeat to Millwall from 12 yards after a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road was QPR’s only match so far this campaign.

In 2025/26, The Hoops finished 15th in the Championship, just 3 places and 3 points above Portsmouth - They lost each of their final 4 games and failed to win any of their last 6.

Can the Blues start the new league season with a win just like they did last time, or will it be Queens Park Rangers coming away from the South Coast with smiles on faces?

Tune in this Saturday (August 15th) afternoon from 2pm to find out as Jake Smith, Graham Butterworth and Danny Thompson present full coverage of the match at Fratton Park on Express FM's Pompey Live.

Kick-off: 3pm!