QPR vs Oxford United | Match Preview

Loftus Road | Wednesday 1 October, 8:00pm

The U's make the short trip to the capital to take on QPR, aiming to bounce back from the defeat at home to Sheffield United on Saturday.

Form Guide - Snapshot

• Oxford United: Five points from their opening seven games (W1 D2 L4), with nine goals scored and 11 conceded across that spell. Despite defeat on Saturday, the performance will give the Yellow Army encouragement that the team is heading in the right direction.
• QPR: W3 D2 L2 in the opening seven. QPR are unbeaten at Loftus Road this season, taking seven points from the nine available from their home fixtures so far. They have also managed to score in all seven of the games they have played so far, so creating chances and scoring goals has not been an issue. 

The Rivalry - A Quick Head-to-Head Check

The two Clubs have faced each other 31 times since their first meeting in 1965, with the U's securing victory on eight occasions. However, it's been a long wait for a win over Wednesday's opponents, with the last triumph against QPR dating back to a 4-1 victory in 1998.

QPR completed a league double over Oxford last season, including a 2-0 win at Loftus Road. U’s fans will be hoping for a repeat of the flawless away performance at Bristol City just two weeks ago, as the team looks to get back on track.

The Connections - Worn Both Badges

• Jamie Mackie: Mackie signed for Oxford United in July 2018 on a two-year contract. He went on to make 91 appearances for the Club, scoring seven league goals. Oxford fans will no doubt remember his stoppage-time winner against Bradford City in 2019- a crucial goal during the fight for League One survival. Oxford United would prove to be the final Club before retirement for Mackie, who had previously also had two separate spells at QPR, making 150 appearances and scoring 24 goals in total.
• Kevin Brock: Born in Bicester, Brock spent eight years at Oxford United between 1979 and 1987. The dynamic midfielder made 283 appearances for the U's, scoring 32 goals. Those who have followed Oxford for many years will know that Brock was part of the side that defeated QPR in the Milk Cup final in 1986. Brock signed for the Hoops in 1987, making 40 league appearances and scoring two goals in his brief spell at Loftus Road.
• Rob Dickie: The English defender, currently at Bristol City, joined Oxford United in January 2018 and quickly became a fan favourite. Dickie captained the Club to the League One Play-Off Final and won the Supporters' Player of the Year award for the 2019/20 season. Dickie made the move to QPR in September 2020 and made 119 appearances for the Hoops.

Tactical View — How QPR Play

1) QPR have started the season well and sit just two points outside of the play-off spots. Former Rennes boss Julien Stephan took over as Head Coach in the summer and has instilled a new sense of confidence in the team. Tactically adjustable, Stephan looks to set up his team depending on the opponent.

2) Hoops striker Richard Kone has made a strong start to life at the club following his move from Wycombe Wanderers in the summer. With three goals in his last five games, he will be pivotal to the QPR attack.

3) In terms of results, whilst they hold a mixed record away from home, they are unbeaten at Loftus Road. In the two previous victories over Stoke and Charlton, respectively, the opponents have controlled the majority of the possession, evidencing their ability to remain disciplined off the ball and be effective in transition and on the counterattack.

4) QPR boast an impressive shot-on-target conversion rate of 35% and pose a significant aerial threat, making set-pieces a potentially key weapon for them this season.

QPR's Main Man - Nicolas Madsen

The 25-year-old Danish midfielder scored the equalising goal at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, adding to an already impressive start to the season. A defensive midfielder with the ability to support both the attack and defence, Madsen has won 70% of his duels, 68.4% of his aerial duels, and made 29 recoveries this season, higher than the average for midfield players across the Sky Bet Championship. If QPR are to secure a positive result, it will likely be Madsen who plays a key role.

By the Numbers — Fast Facts

• Kick-off: Wednesday 1 October, 8:00pm at Loftus Road.
• Recent form (last four): Oxford W1 D2 L1; QPR: W3 D2 L2.
• Goals: Both Clubs currently hold a Goal Difference of -2.
• Historic classics: Oxford 3-0 QPR (Milk Cup Final - 20 April 1986); Oxford 4-1 QPR (26 September 1998); Oxford 3-1 QPR (12 December 1997).
• Top Goal scorers this season: Will Lankshear (3 goals); Richard Kone (3 goals)
• Shared heroes: Matt Phillips, Kevin Brock, Jamie Mackie, Rob Dickie, Billy Hamilton, Jordan Archer.

Voices from the Camp: 

Watch Gary Rowett & Michał Helik's full press conferences below: