Preview | Queens Park Rangers (A)
The Game
Queens Park Rangers v Argyle. MATRADE Loftus Road. Saturday, 24 August. 12.30pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Queens Park Rangers have started the season in a very similar way to Argyle: a defeat and a draw in the league, and a win in the Carabao Cup.
The Hoops began with a 3-1 home defeat against West Bromwich Albion. Lucas Andersen put QPR in front, but a Josh Maja hat-trick won the day for the Baggies. In their second league game, Rangers found themselves 2-0 down to Sheffield United after 13 minutes but rallied to claim a point. Jimmy Dunne got a goal back on 55 minutes and, despite Jack Colback’s sending-off, QPR equalised via Lyndon Dykes with two minutes to go.
In between the two league games, Rangers won 2-1 at Cambridge United in the Carabao Cup, with Michael Frey and Paul Smyth scoring the goals.
The Gaffer
Marti Cifuentes took over as QPR manager at the end of October 2023, following the departure of Gareth Ainsworth. Cifuentes’ first game was a draw against Rotherham United, ending a run of six straight defeats. Rangers were second from bottom.
By the season’s end, the Hoops had rallied to 18th, six points above the drop zone. They had won 13 of the 32 games Cifuentes was in charge for that season, losing 10.
The 42-year-old Catalonian managed several lower league teams in his native Spain before joining Sandefjord in Norway, AaB in Denmark and Hammarby in Sweden, who were playing in the UEFA Europa Conference League when he switched Scandinavia for West London.
The Squad
QPR have brought several players in during the summer, including midfielder Jonathan Varane, who is the half-brother of Manchester United defender Raphael. He has arrived from Sporting Gijon, in Spain. Slovenian international forward Zan Celar has also signed for a reported £1.75m from Swiss side Lugano.
Scotland Under-21 defender Liam Morrison (below), who was on loan at Wigan Athletic from Bayern Munich last season, has joined on a permanent basis, while Karamoko Dembele is on loan from Brest, having impressed at Blackpool last season.
The notable departure is Sinclair Armstrong, the forward having departed for Bristol City for a reported £2.5m.
Last Season’s Meetings
Argyle drew both games with QPR last season. The sides met first in December, in a 0-0 draw. Argyle had started the game well on top before Dan Scarr’s sending off on 25 minutes changed the pattern of the game. The Pilgrims defended resolutely and came away with a more-than-deserved point.
At Home Park, with five games to go and both sides looking for vital points, it looked like a scrambled Paul Field goal on 73 minutes may have won it for QPR. However, an Argyle corner which deflected in off Albert Adomah gave the Greens a precious leveller.
Tickets
Tickets for this match have now sold out.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will wear the yellow third kit for this game.
Sky Coverage
This game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football, with coverage beginning at 11am. The game itself will also be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin at 10am, with the new Argyle Breakfast show, hosted by Erin Black and Aaron Cusack. They will bring you build-up, interviews, guests and features from the Argyle TV studio.
Erin and Aaron will return at 12.15pm for the pre-match show, before handing over to the ground for commentary provided by Harry Salvidge and Garry Nelson.
Match passes to watch this game are available only to certain international audiences. Click here for more information.
