QPR V Boro

Clive Hurren · 2026-09-03T03:26:45Z

Queen’s Park Rangers v Boro MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium. Saturday 5th September 2026 @ 15.00 Hot on the heels of a challenging away draw at Burnley, Boro travel to West London to face a QPR side who have been one of the surprise packages at the start of the season. Coach Julien Stéphan is clearly doing a good job so far in his second season. Currently unbeaten after four league games, they’ve won at Pompey [1-3) and at perennial Boro-bashers Blackburn (1-2). At home they drew 0-0 with Bolton and beat Cardiff 2-1. Their only defeat was a home Carabao loss to Millwall: the game finished 1-1, but the Hoops then missed all 4 penalties they took! You could argue that all 4 of their league games have been against sides which are expected to struggle this season and that the game against Boro is likely to be their stiffest task so far. Nonetheless, they’ll no doubt approach the game full of confidence. They have 10 points compared to our seven. Stéphan had previously been manager of Rennes in his native France and won the Coupe de France with them in 2019. In 2020 his side finished third and qualified for the first time for the Champions League. He moved to Strasbourg and took them up to a 6th place finish in his first season, but results fell away thereafter and he was dismissed in his second season (2023) with the club in 19th. After a second brief spell at Rennes he was appointed QPR manager in June 2025 and Rangers finished 15th in his first season. To get a view on our opponents I’ve used two pieces that appeared in the press pre-season, as follows: Gazette / Press Association view: QPR have made some key signings, including Tariq Lamptey, Finland international (and ex-Boro target) Glen Kamara and goalkeeper Pierce Charles, and if Julien Stéphan can iron out inconsistency in his second season in charge after signing a new contract, the Hoops should enjoy a stress-free season and avoid a relegation battle. Bottom half predicted. BBC view: Andy Rowley, BBC Sport London Head coach: Julien Stéphan Last season: 15th Key ins: Calum Ward (Motherwell), Pierce Charles (Manchester City, loan), Boy Kemper (NAC Breda, free), Tariq Lamptey (Fiorentina, free), Glen Kamara (Rennes), Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland, free) Expectations? Hopes appear to be quite high after a promising transfer window and pre-season. Can QPR bridge the gap against the higher spending teams in the division, because that is what it will take to reach the top eight? Progress will be a top-half finish but if they start well and have better luck with injuries then maybe they can push on further. Strengths? The fact that Julien Stéphan has a season under his belt in the Championship should help, along with him being able to shape the squad more to his requirements. Weaknesses? QPR conceded 73 goals last season. Only beleaguered Sheffield Wednesday conceded more across the season. Stéphan has to sort this out if they're going to be challenging further up the table this season. Difference-maker? I have a hunch that (former Boro youngster) Rumarn Burrell could go well with a fair wind. He's got a lot of the qualities a forward requires to be successful in the Championship so if he stays fit and, crucially, if he gets good service, I think he could be a big hit. Prediction: 13th Boro have won all of our last 5 games against the Hoops, our last defeat coming in 2023. I remember Loftus Road as a ground where very often we suffered poor defeats. That picture has turned round in recent times, though. We have won our last 3 games there, 2-0 in March 2024, 4-1 in November 2024 and 4-0 last year, a game which Boro dominated from start to finish. It would be nice to see us score 4 again this time, which, with our current forward options, might not be entirely beyond the bounds of possibility, though Rangers will no doubt give us a much sterner test this time. It’s at the other end where I think we’ll have problems. We’ve obviously been far too open at the back so far, as Blackburn showed, while at Burnley we again crumbled too easily under 2nd half pressure. We’ll need to tighten up considerably. Romarn Burrell scored both goals against Cardiff and will no doubt be fired up to prove a point against his old club. I can’t really see us keeping a clean sheet, though we do have strength in depth across the back now. Perhaps this is a game in which to start both Phillips and Jones? Might we need a bit more bite in midfield, too? Would we be stronger with Barron rather than Malanda for this one? One thing is certain: it’s high time we played both halves of a game with the same intensity and control! Finally, being a pedantic, dyed-in-the-wool, stickler-for-correctness grammarian, I have given QPR the apostrophe we all know their name requires! None of this modern ‘it doesn’t matter’ rubbish for me!

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2026-27

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September 5, 2026 11:11 am

Great opener, Clive. Hoping for the best today.

Currently in Edinburgh with my girlfriend so contributions here will be limited ‘til around Tuesday, but will be following the lads nonetheless. Made plenty of notes after the Burnley game which I’m sure will remain relevant.

PS It’s at times like these that I’m glad the Millwall game was postponed as it means I can just focus on enjoying the trip. It’s my first preview and I am really looking forward to it.

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RE: QPR V Boro

Great opener, Clive. Hoping for the best today. Curre...

By Si , 51 minutes ago
RE: QPR V Boro

@clive-hurren just caught up with your opener and wante...

By Powmill-Naemore , 3 hours ago
RE: QPR V Boro

Thanks for the intro Clive. I personally don't have goo...

By MW in Darwin , 12 hours ago
RE: QPR V Boro

I have now read the intervening posts. Thank you, Len!

By Forever Dormo , 12 hours ago
RE: QPR V Boro

@jarkko and CLIVE HURREN - Thanks for the Match Preview...

By Forever Dormo , 18 hours ago
RE: QPR V Boro

@clive-hurren Yes not exactly high praise... Every...

By werdermouth , 18 hours ago
RE: QPR V Boro

@werdermouth Thanks for the Dom Shaw quote. MFC webs...

By Clive Hurren , 19 hours ago
RE: QPR V Boro

Werder Likewise Peart-Harris who got a knock against...

By Pedro de Espana , 20 hours ago
RE: QPR V Boro

@werdermouth I think I read that Sarmiento won’t be in ...

By Martin Bellamy , 21 hours ago
RE: QPR V Boro

@clive-hurren Dominic Shaw has posted on X: Whittake...

By werdermouth , 22 hours ago

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