Portsmouth managed to secure only one victory in their first 14 Championship matches of the season against QPR, leading many to believe they were headed towards a relegation battle. However, the team from the south coast has managed to pull themselves out of the relegation zone with some positive results, especially when playing at home.
QPR, on the other hand, currently sit in 13th place and are just four points away from the play-off spots following their 4-0 victory over struggling Derby last week.
Team news
Portsmouth is concerned that Callum Lang might be out for the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury, with Jordan Williams, Conor Shaughnessy, Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell, and Paddy Lane also unavailable. Freddie Potts will undergo a late fitness assessment.
Jake Clarke-Salter and Zan Celar are expected to miss the game for QPR, while Daniel Bennie is away on international duty. However, Lucas Andersen and Karamoko Dembele are set to be part of the squad.
The stats
Portsmouth has emerged victorious in five of their last seven home league fixtures, with only one loss in their last 10 matches at Fratton Park.
QPR's previous 15 away games in the Championship have all seen fewer than four goals scored.
Only one of Rangers' last 12 league matches has ended in a draw.
QPR has secured four away wins in the Championship, all against teams in the bottom five.
Prediction
The initial months of this Championship campaign were extremely challenging for Portsmouth following their promotion, with many expecting an immediate return to League One.
However, under John Mousinho's guidance, the team has staged a remarkable recovery, moving away from relegation-threatened teams and creating a seven-point buffer above the bottom three.
Their impressive home form has been a significant factor in their resurgence, coupled with a notable 2-0 away victory against Oxford last week.
This increased confidence is likely to continue in their upcoming match against QPR, despite the London visitors hovering just four points away from the play-offs.
QPR has struggled with inconsistency at times, evident in their recent back-to-back away defeats against Millwall and Coventry.
They have clinched four away victories, all against teams battling relegation such as Hull, Plymouth, Cardiff, and the league's bottom side, Luton.
Therefore, facing Portsmouth, who have lost only once in their previous 10 games at home, could be a tough challenge for Rangers, hindering their chances to replicate last week's 4-0 victory over Derby, another struggling team.