Match Preview: QPR (H)

30 November 2023

Preston North End will be looking to get back to winning ways on Friday night live in front of the Sky Sports cameras as Queens Park Rangers come to Deepdale.

Match Details

Date: Friday 1^st December, 8pm kick-off
Venue: Deepdale
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Kit: Home kit

Supporter Information

Tickets for Friday’s match will remain on sale from the ticket office right up until kick-off, while supporters can also buy online.

The Gentry Bar, which is decorated ready for Christmas, will be open to home fans from 4pm. Full timings will be confirmed in the Matchday Information article, which will be published ahead of your arrival at the ground.

Fans can get to and from Deepdale by using the matchday shuttle bus service, which costs £6 for a return ticket purchased on board.

Leyland Tesco (Stop A – Car Park) – 6.20pm
The Railway Pub, Leyland – 6.30pm
Ye Olde Hob Inn, Bamber Bridge – 6.35pm
Beam and Brycg Pub, Bamber Bridge – 6.40pm
Arrive at Deepdale, Lowthorpe Road – 7pm

As part of the Whites Christmas Toy Appeal, in partnership with Rock FM Mission Christmas, fans can also support vulnerable local families by donating unused, unwrapped toys before the match at The Gentry Bar.

This fixture is dedicated to the introduction of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower at Deepdale. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get a lanyard by clicking here.

Who’s Available?

After making his return from injury and Preston North End debut on Tuesday night, Calvin Ramsay will be pushing for his first start on Friday evening.

PNE will also be boosted by the return of Ali McCann and Greg Cunningham, who manager Ryan Lowe says will “definitely be in the squad”, while Emil Riis is getting closer and is expected to be back over the Christmas period.

Liam Millar should also be fine for a return after missing the Middlesbrough game, and Milutin Osmajić – who went off injured at the Riverside – will be monitored and given the best possible chance.

Opposition Focus

Following a poor start to the season, former PNE man Gareth Ainsworth was let go in October and was replaced by head coach Martí Cifuentes.

The Spaniard – who has previously managed Norwegian club Sandefjord and Danish side AaB, among others – began his reign with two draws and a defeat on the road to Norwich City.

He claimed his first victory at the helm on Tuesday night and in style too, beating Stoke City 4-2 on home turf, and they’ll be hoping that can kickstart an upturn in form to take them out of the relegation zone.

A Recent Clash

Tom Cannon scored a brace for North End the last time these sides met, at Loftus Road in April.

Follow The Action

This fixture will be shown live on Sky Sports and therefore will be unavailable to watch on iFollow PNE in the majority of regions.

Live commentary will be available, though, with both match and monthly passes on sale.

You can also follow live coverage of the match across the club’s social media channels and here on the club website.

Match Officials

Referee: Josh Smith
Assistant Referees: Matthew Jones and Sam Lewis
Fourth Official: Matthew Donohue

Josh Smith, who has already taken charge of two PNE matches so far this season, will referee Friday night’s game.

He has shown 66 yellow cards and three reds in 17 games this campaign.

Match Reports

Match Report: PNE 0 QPR 2

1 December 2023

Preston North End were beaten 2-0 by Queens Park Rangers in wintry conditions at Deepdale.

In a game of few chances, the visitors took the lead ten minutes into the second period through Paul Smyth’s close-range finish, before Chris Willock made it two in the closing stages.

North End made three changes from the midweek defeat to Middlesbrough, with skipper Alan Browne and Duane Holmes returning to the starting XI, while there was a first start for Calvin Ramsay in the absence of the suspended Brad Potts.

On a bitterly-cold evening at Deepdale, the action took a while to warm up, and the first effort for either side fell for Ched Evans in the 14^th minute, but his first-time attempt was kept out by Asmir Begović.

It looked like Evans would have another presentable opportunity just a few minutes later, however his decision to take a touch instead of hitting it first time helped the defence, who managed to get a tackle in.

In the 22^nd minute, Lyndon Dykes was shown a yellow card as his flailing left arm struck the face of Andrew Hughes who went up for a header with the striker, and on another day the punishment may have been more severe.

QPR’s first effort at goal came eight minutes before the break when Chris Willock let the ball run across his body, losing Ramsay in the process, but his strike trickled wide of Freddie Woodman’s goal.

North End brought on Liam Millar at the start of the second half to try and inject some pace into the game, while QPR introduced Ilias Chair, who created the opening goal within ten minutes.

The Moroccan cut in from the left and sent a dangerous, low cross towards the far post where Smyth was charging in to bundle the ball home.

Chair then tried his luck himself soon after, having a 25-yard strike comfortably caught by Woodman, while at the other end Mads Frøkjær sent a strike just over the bar, albeit from an offside position.

Woodman had to save again in the 72^nd minute to prevent Andre Dozzell making it two from distance, and he then came up with an even better stop six minutes from time to tip Elijah Dixon-Bonner’s effort wide at full stretch.

The visitors put the game to bed with three minutes to spare as Chair drilled a low cross towards the far post and Willock was there to tap home and seal victory.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Ramsay (Stewart, 87), Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Browne, Whiteman (McCann, 73); Holmes, Keane (Millar, 45), Frøkjær (Woodburn, 73), Evans. Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Brady, Ledson, Best.

QPR line-up: Begović; Cannon (Kakay, 65), Dunne, Salter-Clarke, Paal; Field, Colback (Chair, 45); Smyth (Dixon-Bonner, 65), Dozzell (Larkeche, 79), Willock (Kelman, 90+2); Dykes. Subs not used: Archer, Cook, Duke-McKenna, Drew.

Attendance: 14,280 (542 QPR fans)

Referee: Mr J Smith.

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