Pompey return to action following the international break when they make the short trip to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (3pm kick-off). Both sides are currently sitting inside the Championship bottom three and will be eager to move outside those relegation places as quickly as possible. While the Blues are still searching for their first win of the campaign, their opponents have only got one success to their name. Martí Cifuentes side fought from behind to win 2-1 at Luton in August, but have collected just a couple of points from their five fixtures since. The Londoners head into the weekend on the back of three successive defeats against Blackburn, Hull and, in their last outing, Derby. Fans will be keen to avoid last season's struggles, when they looked in trouble for much of the campaign before a positive final couple of months saw them pull clear from danger. A John Marquis penalty and late Marcus Harness finish secured a 2-0 win when the sides last met for a Carabao Cup second round tie in August 2019. Saturday will be the first league meeting since the 2010/11 Championship campaign, with QPR triumphing 2-0 at Fratton Park to follow a 1-1 draw on the south coast. A period of applause will take place before kick-off to remember former QPR player and coach Frank Sibley, who passed away in May at the age of 76. TEAM NEWS Jacob Farrell (knee) and Conor Shaughnessy (calf) are still sidelined, while Saturday's game might come too soon for Callum Lang.. Ibane Bowat is set to miss the the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, while Colby Bishop is continuing his rehabilitation from heart surgery. The suspended Jonathan Varane will be absent for the hosts, who are also without Jake Clarke-Salter (knee) and Liam Morrison (knee). VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Freddie Potts ahead of the big game. HEAD TO HEAD Overall Pompey: 11 wins QPR: 15 wins 13 draws At Loftus Road Pompey: 4 wins QPR: 10 wins 6 draws Last Away Meeting QPR 0 Pompey 2 (Marquis, Harness) Carabao Cup R2 August 28 2019 TICKETS Pompey have sold their full allocation of tickets, which have been sent as etickets, and there no more available to buy for away fans. Click here to read a guide to visiting Loftus Road that has been produced by the home club. OFFICIALS Referee: James Linington Assistants: James Wilson and Jonathan Hunt Fourth Official: Sam Purkiss Linington last took charge of a Pompey game when they won 1-0 at Fratton Park against Crawley in an EFL Trophy group match in September 2019. He showed two yellow cards, both to the visitors. MATCH COVERAGE Supporters based overseas can watch the game on Pompey+, either through a monthly/annual subscription or by purchasing a match pass. The matchday show is live before the game for Pompey+ subscribers and overseas fans with a video subscription/match pass. George Wedlake will be joined in the Fratton Park studio by Andy Awford and Paul Robinson. Fans can get involved by sending messages and voicenotes to our Pompey+ WhatsApp channel* on +44 7457 413694 or via this link. Please note that the half-time and post-match shows are only available to watch for fans in regions where the game is being shown live on Pompey+. Audio commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham is available for Pompey+ subscribers or those who purchase an audio subscription/match pass. Click here for more details about using Pompey+, including the answers to some frequently asked questions. Locally-based fans who are not going to the game can listen as always via BBC Radio Solent or Express FM (not available online). *Please note that the WhatsApp service is only for sending messages to appear on the matchday show. The club will not be able to reply to any messages.
Still no Kusini Yengi in the starting line up, but at least he is named on the bench. Mark O'Mahony starts up front, with fit again top scorer Callum Lang starting on the right flank. Former QPR keeper Jordan Archer and their former midfielder Andre Dozzell are both named on the bench.
Callum Lang right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Freddie Potts with a headed pass. 1 minute.
1-1, with a goal from Freddie Potts, assisted by Callum Lang. 18 minutes. That's his first Pompey goal.
Callum Lang right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high following a corner. 33 minutes.
Half Time Match Stats:- Overall Possession Queens Park Rangers 65.8%Portsmouth 34.2% Shots Queens Park Rangers 9Portsmouth 7 Shots on target Queens Park Rangers 4Portsmouth 2 Shots off target Queens Park Rangers 5Portsmouth 3 Blocked shots Queens Park Rangers 0Portsmouth 2 Total touches in the box Queens Park Rangers 11Portsmouth 3 Goalkeeper saves Queens Park Rangers 1Portsmouth 3 Aerial duels won Queens Park Rangers 14Portsmouth 11 Fouls Queens Park Rangers 4Portsmouth 4 Corners Queens Park Rangers 2Portsmouth 3
This is, of course, the first of back-to back 'Six-Pointers', with a trip to cardiff in mid-week. Funny how these things come around
