Preview: Watford vs Queens Park Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

Desperate to better their 2024-25 campaigns and dreaming of a push for Championship promotion, Watford will welcome Queens Park Rangers to Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon.

The Hornets and the Hoops are both looking for their first wins of the campaign this weekend.

Match preview

Paulo Pezzolano's Watford went undefeated throughout pre-season, but they have lost both of their competitive matches in a poor start to 2025-26.

The Hornets began their second-tier term at the Valley, where they were beaten 1-0 by Charlton Athletic, and the manager will be concerned that his team were only able to produce one shot on target against the promoted club.

To make matters worse, Pezzolano's side followed up that loss by being eliminated from the EFL Cup by Norwich City in a 2-1 defeat, this time generating two efforts on goal.

This offensive dullness is not a recent trend for Watford, and having scored twice in a match on just one occasion since February 23, the Hornets will need to dramatically boost their output if they are to approach the top six this season.

Preparing for Saturday's home game, fans of the hosts will be aware of their mixed record at Vicarage Road that features two wins, two draws and two losses from their last six competitive home matches, but they will also know that victory this weekend could give the team a major psychological boost.

Meanwhile, QPR ended their 2024-25 Championship campaign by losing 10 of their final 18 second-tier matches and eventually parted ways with then-boss Marti Cifuentes after a period of gardening leave.

Former Rennes and Strasbourg manager Julien Stephan was appointed Hoops head-coach in June, and his team opened their Championship campaign with a 1-1 draw with Preston North End at Loftus Road.

Stephan's men followed up that stalemate with a 3-2 EFL Cup defeat at the hands of Plymouth Argyle, a particularly disappointing result given that the Pilgrims now play in League One.

With that loss, QPR are now currently in the midst of a five-game winless run, and the Londoners will be desperate for their first win under their new chief.

However, the Hoops will need to tighten up at the back as they have the inverse problem to their opponents; while Watford struggle to score, QPR have not kept a clean sheet in five matches.

Watford Championship form:

Watford form (all competitions):

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:

Queens Park Rangers form (all competitions):

Team News

Watford are carrying a number of injured players ahead of this clash, including left-back Caleb Wiley and centre-backs Matthew Pollock and James Abankwah, so expect to see Kevin Keben start at centre-half alongside Max Alleyne, flanked by Jeremy Ngakia and Marc Bola at full-back.

Elsewhere, versatile attacker Giorgi Chakvetadze and midfielder Pierre Dwomoh are out of action, though Hector Kyprianou, Imran Louza and Moussa Sissoko should be on hand to start in the centre of the park.

As for QPR, they are without defenders Jake Clarke-Salter and Jimmy Dunne this weekend, with the pair suffering from hip injuries that could keep them sidelined for another month.

In their absence, Kieran Morgan, Liam Morrison, Amadou Mbengue and Esquerdinha are likely to make up the back four on Saturday.

At the opposite end of the pitch, wingers Kwame Poku and Karamoko Dembele could sit this game out after being taken off with injuries against Preston, and Rayan Kolli and Harvey Vale may start if they are unavailable.

Watford possible starting lineup:

Selvik; Ngakia, Biakolo, Alleyne, Bola; Sissoko, Louza, Kyprianou; Baah, Kjerrumgaard, Doumbia

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Walsh; Morgan, Morrison, Mbengue, Esquerdinha; Field, Madsen; Kolli, Chair, Vale; Celar

We say: Watford 1-1 Queens Park Rangers

Watford have struggled to create chances, but given that QPR have found clean sheets hard to come by, expect both teams to score.

Additionally, both the Hornets and the Hoops will be looking for the boost in confidence that a win would bring under their managers, and fans should be treated to a close-fought contest on Saturday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.