This Week's Opposition: Queens Park Rangers

Following a 2 week international break, the Blues are back in Championship action and it's Queens Park Rangers the opponents in matchday 10 - Kirsty Roxanne takes a closer look into the challenge that awaits.

After a fortnight off due to the 2nd international break of the season, the Blues are back in Championship action this weekend and are heading to the capital to take on Queens Park Rangers.

A 1-1 draw with Oxford United last time out at PO4 presented John Mousinho’s side with their first goal scored by a Pompey player in the correct net on home soil.

We now take a closer look at the Blues’ next challenge, QPR…

MANAGER

Marti Cifuentes is at the helm for The Hoops.

Cifuentes began his coaching career with the youth side of Sabadell. He subsequently worked at Terrassa before having short spells in the youth departments of Ajax and Millwall between 2008 and 2009.

The Spanish football coach also managed the likes of Rubí, Sant Andreu, Hospitalet, Sandefjord, AaB.

He was appointed head coach of Swedish club Hammarby IF in October 2023 but with 2 fixtures left of the season, he left the club with immediate effect after an agreement with Queens Park Rangers for his transfer.

Last season, Cifuentes guided the club to 18th in the Championship after accumulating 56 points.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to keep tabs on is 21-year-old Karamoko Dembélé.

The winger was born in England before moving to Scotland before his first birthday and has represented both countries at youth level, lastly at Under-18s.

Dembélé attracted media attention in October 2016, when he made his debut for Celtic’s Under-20 development team at the age of just 13.

He signed his first senior contract with Celtic but went on to leave the club after 9 years following the expiration of his contract. Dembélé joined French club Brest, signing a 4-year contract with the Ligue 1 side.

Whilst at Brest, Dembélé had a season-long loan spell at Blackpool in League One, where his 8 goals and 14 assists throughout the season was rewarded with the club’s ‘Junior Seasiders Player of the Season’, ‘Player’s Player of the Season’, and ‘Supporters’ Player of the Season’ awards.

In August, he returned to England for a season-long loan at QPR but It was recently announced that the number 7 will join the club permanently, effective from the summer of 2025.

TOP SCORER

The current top goalscorer is Swiss striker Michael Frey.

Frey started his senior career at Switzerland club BSC Young Boys before he signed a four-year contract with FC Zürich. He also played for Turkish club Fenerbahçe before making his move to Antwerp on a permanent deal.

In August 2021, Frey scored all five goals for Antwerp in their 5-2 league win over Standard Liège. 

The 30-year-old made his move to England when he signed for Queens Park Rangers in January. Frey opened his account for the 2024/25 season in a 2-1 victory over Cambridge United in the First Round of the Carabao Cup. The win was QPR’s first in the competition for 3 years.

The number 12 has 3 league goals so far this campaign.

CURRENT FORM

Following a return of 1 win, 4 draws and 4 defeats from their opening 9 league fixtures, QPR sit just 1 place and 2 points above Portsmouth in 22nd position.

The Hoops’ only victory came on the 30th of August, when they beat Luton Town by 2 goals to 1 away at Kenilworth Road.

Marti Cifuentes’ side go into this match off the back of 3 straight defeats with their most recent one inflicted away at Derby County on October 5th, where at Pride Park The Rams were victorious by 2 goals to nil.

Could this finally be the weekend the Blues get their season up and running?

Find out by catching all of the unmissable action on Express FM's Pompey Live this Saturday (October 19th) afternoon from 2pm - Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson will be on hand LIVE from Loftus Road with full coverage of the Championship clash between Queens Park Rangers and Portsmouth.

Kick-off: 3pm!