Queens Park Rangers v Preston: play-off push meets survival fight | OneFootball

Queens Park Rangers host Preston North End in the Championship at Loftus Road on Saturday, 19 September 2026, with the hosts sitting in the play-off places and the visitors in the relegation zone after contrasting starts.

Queens Park Rangers have lost only one of seven league games and are fifth on 12 points. Preston North End are 23rd with three. Both league meetings last season ended 1-1.

The hosts' recent run reads two wins, one defeat and then back to back draws, while Preston have lost four of their last five, the exception a home win over Blackburn.

Queens Park Rangers list Illias Chair, Paul Smyth, Jimmy Dunne, Boy Kemper, Tariq Lamptey, Karamoko Dembele and Richard Kone as injured. Preston are without Brad Potts, Alistair McCann and Theo Carroll.

Julien Stéphan's side have been tight at the back with five goals conceded and two clean sheets, plus 84.25% passing accuracy and 78 total shots. They have eight goals, all from open play. Preston, by contrast, have shipped 13 with no clean sheets, but deliver plenty from wide areas with 110 open play crosses at 25.45% accuracy. Callum Lang leads their scoring with three league goals, while Rumarn Burrell has two for the hosts. Queens Park Rangers could look to test a leaky defence. Preston may target aerial supply.

A win would take Queens Park Rangers to 15 points and could strengthen their grip on the play-off spots. Preston would move to six points with victory and could begin to ease the relegation pressure.