Match Pack: QPR vs Saints
It’s another trip to the capital for Saints, visiting West London to take on Queens Park Rangers in the Championship. Get set for the trip with our Match Pack…
THE MATCH
QPR vs Saints
Sky Bet Championship
Loftus Road
Saturday 23rd December, 3pm GMT
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Oliver Langford
Assistants: Hristo Karaivanov and Andrew Dallison
Fourth official: Scott Tallis
WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?
Saints will be in their black, yellow and grey third kit, last worn at Coventry City earlier in the month.
Ché Adams wears the black, yellow and grey third kit at Coventry City.
HOW TO WATCH?
Due to the 3pm blackout, fans in the UK and Ireland won’t be able to access video coverage for Saturday’s game. But for a price of £10 a Video Pass is available to all international fans.
However everyone, including those in the UK and Ireland, will be able to listen to audio coverage of the trip to West London.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The longest unbeaten run in the top four divisions still belongs to Saints, who are now up to 14 games unbeaten after victory over Blackburn Rovers at St Mary’s Stadium.
Saturday’s three points put Russell Martin’s side level with Leeds United in third, but still ten behind second place Ipswich Town, a gap they’ll be hopefully to reduce with consecutive wins.
QPR have had somewhat of a resurgence in recent weeks under new manager Martí Cifuentes, winning three of their last five games.
If they stretch their unbeaten run at home to five games they could climb out of the relegation zone, rising as high as 19th.
TEAM NEWS
Russell Martin has no fresh injury concerns to contend with, but admits he will have to utilise those at his disposal with four games in the space of 10 days over the festive period.
Longer-term absentees Ross Stewart, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Juan Larios remain unavailable.
THE MANAGERS
Martí Cifuentes: To follow.
Russell Martin: The challenge for our team is to be the team we want to be. That's no different this Saturday. We will go there with a clear game plan with supporters who have been great on the road.
"We have had some really good away performances. If you see what Watford and Coventry have done after those games they are good results."
TOP SCORERS
QPR
Goals:
Willock, Paal, Dykes 3
Chair, Colback, Dozzell 2
Armstrong, Smyth, Clarke-Salter 1
Assists:
Ilias Chair 4
Sinclair Armstrong 2
Six players 1
Southampton
Goals:
A Armstrong 12
Adams, Edozie 4
Alcaraz, Smallbone, S Armstrong 3
Assists:
A Armstrong 6
Kamaldeen 3
Adams, Walker-Peters, Downes, Manning 2
ONES TO WATCH
Ilias Chair: In a difficult start to the season in West London, Moroccan attacking midfielder Chair has still managed to contribute to six of QPR's 20 Championship goals.
With a WhoScored rating of 6.90, the 26-year-old offers shots from range and dangerous crosses from the flank as he provides the fulcrum of Cifuentes's attacking shape.
Ryan Fraser: Whether he starts or comes off the bench, there's no doubting Wee Man provides an impact for this Saints side.
Involved in the build-up to Sam Edozie's equaliser against Coventry, before providing the assist for Sékou Mara at home to Blackburn, alongside a late winner on his penultimate trip to the capital, QPR will be well aware of the threat he posses
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 113
Saints: 47
Draws: 27
QPR: 39
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
August 2023: Saints 2-1 QPR (Edozie, A Armstrong)
February 2015: QPR 0-1 Saints (Mané)
September 2014: Saints 2-1 QPR (Bertrand, Pelle)
March 2013: Saints 1-2 QPR (Ramirez)
November 2012: QPR 1-3 Saints (Lambert, Puncheon, A.Ferdinand og)
KEEP UP TO DATE
Not joining us at Loftus Road? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all the behind-the-scenes content alongside the in-game action as Saints travel to QPR.
Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with live streaming of the game, key updates and audio commentary of the match, and be sure to download the official Saints app and follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
