Match Pack: Watford v QPR

• Watford v Queens Park Rangers
• Sky Bet Championship
• Vicarage Road
• Saturday August 5, 3pm KO
• Yellow and black home kit

• Referee: Thomas Bramall
• Assistant Referees: Akil Howson and Hristo Karaivanov
• Fourth Official: Oliver Langford

QPR will be looking for a positive result at Vicarage Road to help banish memories of a disappointing 2022/23 campaign, which saw them finish 20th in the table - just two spots off the drop - following a strong start.

The Hoops managed just four wins in the league from late October onwards, but having sealed survival - following his February 2023 appointment - Head Coach Gareth Ainsworth will be hoping for more success in his first full season in charge.

Despite losing the likes of Rob Dickie, Stefan Johansen and Seny Dieng during the summer, QPR have recruited several experienced Championship heads, including Asmir Begović, Morgan Fox and Jack Colback.

• Home Head Coach Valérien Ismaël has beaten a team managed by Gareth Ainsworth on both previous occasions, with Barnsley beating Wycombe 2-1 and 3-1 in the 2020/21 Championship season.

• The Hornets have lost their first league game in just one of the last 16 campaigns (W9 D6), winning on opening day in each of the last three seasons.

• Watford finished their 2022/23 Championship season with a 2-0 home victory over Stoke City – not since January have the Hornets won successive league fixtures.

For a full statistical breakdown, check out Stats Buzz: QPR In Numbers.

There could be a number of new faces to look out for within the Watford side on Saturday, with Tom Ince, Rhys Healey, Jake Livermore, Matheus Martins, Jamal Lewis and Giorgi Chakvetadze having all come through the door.

QPR could be without centre-half Jimmy Dunne, after he sustained a shoulder injury in a pre-season defeat at Oxford United last week (Saturday July 29). Fellow defender Jake Clarke-Salter is also a doubt.

Valérien Ismaël, Watford Head Coach:

“We feel good, and we feel ready. Pre-season has been a long process, but that’s been necessary to change the mindset and attitude of the players, and I think that’s the first thing we did.

“The second was to implement the way to play, with intensity in the training sessions. We as coaches needed to implement our principles, and the players needed time to get an understanding of what we expected from them, and the results have been very good.

“In the Championship this year there are only strong teams, and QPR are one of those. We know what we need to do, but we can’t wait to be out there in front of our fans, and we feel ready for the competition.”

Click HERE to read Ismaël’s full pre-match interview.

Gareth Ainsworth, QPR Head Coach:

“This is the moment everyone has been building up to.

“I’m hopeful of having a good team out. We’ve got one or two injuries in a similar position but we’re going to be strong and we’re looking forward to taking on a good Watford side away from home.

“Valérien’s very driven and knows how he wants his teams to play. It’s going to be a difficult game but I’m looking forward to locking horns with him.”

Overall:

Won: 33
Drawn: 31
Lost: 53

Last Six:

March 2023: QPR 1-0 Watford (Championship)
August 2022: Watford 2-3 QPR (Championship)
February 2021: Watford 1-2 QPR (Championship)
November 2020: QPR 1-1 Watford (Championship)
February 2019: QPR 0-1 Watford (FA Cup)
April 2014: QPR 2-1 Watford (Championship)

Watford succumbed Championship leaders QPR to a first league defeat of the season in December 2010, with a Danny Graham brace and a Jordon Mutch strike earning the Hornets a 3-1 triumph at Loftus Road.