Queens Park Rangers vs Preston predictions: Stephan to get off to a flier
QPR finished 15th in the Championship last season
Preston came 20th, just a point outside the bottom three
Recommended bet: QPR to win
A new dawn begins at Loftus Road where Frenchman Julien Stephan takes charge of QPR for the first time in the Championship at home to Preston North End.
These sides struggled last season — North End almost went down — and they will be desperate to get off to a good start in quests to make at least the top half of the table this term.
The latest Queens Park Rangers vs Preston North End odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
New Rangers' skipper Jimmy Dunne and the man he took the armband off, Steve Cook, both picked up knocks in last weekend's 1-0 friendly defeat against Brentford and are doubts.
New boss Stephan also saw Karamoko Dembele come off but hinted it was no more than cramp. Amadou Mbengue, signed from Reading, is ready to slot into the back line.
North End summer signing from Stoke, Jordan Thompson, has an ankle problem and won't be involved. It also looks as though Brad Potts and Will Keane could be missing for the Lilywhites while Robbie Brady is a doubt.
The stats
Twenty-eight of QPR's 46 games last season produced either two or three goals.
Both teams scored in 70 per cent of the Hoops' home games last term, a record bettered only at Norwich and Plymouth.
Preston won only one of six pre-season friendlies, failing to find the net in each of their last three.
North End were last term's draw experts, drawing a Championship-high 20 of their 46 matches.
Only bottom club Cardiff won fewer games (9) than Preston (10).
Preston signed off last season without a win in any of their final nine league and cup games.
The latest Queens Park Rangers vs Preston North End odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Preston finished last season badly and on the evidence of pre-season a swift upturn in their fortunes looks unlikely.
North End failed to win any of their last eight Championship games and dropped like a stone towards the relegation zone, eventually finishing just a point from safety.
They had drawn too many games and not won anywhere near enough and the build-up to 2025/26 has been every bit as frustrating.
Paul Heckingbottom has overseen 2-0 losses to both Tranmere and Bolton in their final warm-ups and if concerns over injuries to a few key men are realised then the big kick-off could well turn into a damp squib.
North End's concerns are in stark contrast to the mood at Loftus Road where fans were sad to see Marti Cifuentes leave the dug-out but have been impressed by Julien Stephan.
He looks to have signed some real stars — Kwame Poku and Amadou Mbengue — stick out, and if Ilias Chair can have one of those seasons then Rangers ought to be play-off contenders.
Take them to get going with a win.
