Southampton travel to Loftus Road on Wednesday to take on Queens Park Rangers (QPR). Three defeats on the bounce has left the Saints 21st in the table and without a permanent manager. Tonda Eckert takes charge of the first team as interim manager.
Southampton were beaten 2-0 by Preston at St Mary's on Saturday. After an abject performance infront of an increasingly frustrated crowd, Will Still was relieved his duties. After going a goal behind to Lewis Dobbin's scrambled goal after 38 minutes, the Saints looked like going firther behind before half-time.
In the second half, Caspar Jander's spectacular effort almost drew the Saints level but Preston put the game to bed in injury time with a goal on the transition.
QPR have not been in great form either. Back to back defeats has seen them slump to 13th in the Championship.
QPR were comprehensively beaten by Ipswich Town on Saturday, going down 4-1 at Loftus Road. Rumarn Burrell sent the 'Rs' in to the break back on level terms. Any hopes that Rangers had of winning the match evaporated within the hour by which time they had fallen 3-1 behind. A fourth a few minutes after the hour could have quite the negative psychological impact.
This is a free hit for Tonda Eckert and for managerless Southampton. The board may well feel that they have bought themselves some breathing space. They almost certainly haven't. Since winning at Sheffield United, the Saints have taken just two points from a possible fifteen. Two more defeats before the international break would be ominous.
QPR, on the other hand, will view this as the ideal match to get back to winning ways. With Southampton at a low ebb, Rangers will hope to take advantage against a side low in confidence.
Here's our preview of the Saints Championship clash with QPR.
QPR vs Southampton: Preview, Prediction & Lineups
What time does QPR vs Southampton kick off?
QPR vs Southampton kicks off on Wednesday 5th November at 19:45 GMT.
- When is kick off? Wednesday 5th November, 2025
- What time is kick off? 19:45 GMT
- Where is it played? MATRADE Loftus Road
- Referee: James Bell
QPR vs Southampton last five (competitive) meetings
Date | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|
23 December 2023 | QPR 0-1 Southampton | EFL Championship |
26 August 2023 | Southampton 2-1 QPR | EFL Championship |
7 February 2015 | QPR 0-1 Southampton | Premier League |
27 September 2014 | Southampton 2-1 Preston | Premier League |
2 March 2013 | Southampton 1-2 QPR | Premier League |
Southampton vs QPR head-to-head record
Club | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
Southampton | 48 | 27 | 39 |
QPR | 39 | 27 | 48 |
Southampton team news
Southampton have a sgnificant injury list and Tonda Eckert will need to draw on the full depth of his squad.
Shea Charles has a significant hamstring injury that could keep him out for 5-6 weeks. Flynn Downes will come in for Charles if he has shaken off his own injury and illness.
Cameron Archer still has an ankle injury which he picked up at Blackburn Rovers and is doubtful for the matchup with QPR. As a result, Eckert might be forced into a change in formation.
Ross Stewart and Elias Jelert are still injured. Welington is suspended following his red card at Blackburn Rovers. It's difficult to predict Eckert's first team selectionher's our best shot!
Predicted Southampton lineup vs Preston: McCarthy; Roerslev, Wood, Harwood-Bellis, Manning; Downes, Jander, Azaz; Scienza, Fellows, Armstrong (4-2-3-1)
QPR team news
John Clarke-Salter, Kwame Poku and Ilias Chair are all back in contention having taken part in training this week.
Predicted Preston lineup vs Southampton: Nardi; Dunne, Morrison, Cook, Esquerdinha; Vale, Hayden, Madsen, Chair; Kone, Burrell (4-4-2)
Southampton vs QPR score prediction
Although Southampton have a good record against QPR this is a very different proposition than in recent times. Short on confidence and points, the Saints may struggle again on Wednesday evening.
A scrappy point might be the best that Saints can hope for, unless Tonda Eckert has some magical pixie dust at his disposal. This could be another difficult evening for already suffering Southampton fans.
QPR will come into this one as favourites and it's difficult to argue with that.
Prediction: QPR 2-0 Southampton
Southampton travel to Loftus Road on Wednesday to take on Queens Park Rangers (QPR). Three defeats on the bounce has left the Saints 21st in the table and without a permanent manager. Tonda Eckert takes charge of the first team as interim manager.
Southampton were beaten 2-0 by Preston at St Mary's on Saturday. After an abject performance infront of an increasingly frustrated crowd, Will Still was relieved his duties. After going a goal behind to Lewis Dobbin's scrambled goal after 38 minutes, the Saints looked like going firther behind before half-time.
In the second half, Caspar Jander's spectacular effort almost drew the Saints level but Preston put the game to bed in injury time with a goal on the transition.
QPR have not been in great form either. Back to back defeats has seen them slump to 13th in the Championship.
QPR were comprehensively beaten by Ipswich Town on Saturday, going down 4-1 at Loftus Road. Rumarn Burrell sent the 'Rs' in to the break back on level terms. Any hopes that Rangers had of winning the match evaporated within the hour by which time they had fallen 3-1 behind. A fourth a few minutes after the hour could have quite the negative psychological impact.
This is a free hit for Tonda Eckert and for managerless Southampton. The board may well feel that they have bought themselves some breathing space. They almost certainly haven't. Since winning at Sheffield United, the Saints have taken just two points from a possible fifteen. Two more defeats before the international break would be ominous.
QPR, on the other hand, will view this as the ideal match to get back to winning ways. With Southampton at a low ebb, Rangers will hope to take advantage against a side low in confidence.
Here's our preview of the Saints Championship clash with QPR.
QPR vs Southampton: Preview, Prediction & Lineups
What time does QPR vs Southampton kick off?
QPR vs Southampton kicks off on Wednesday 5th November at 19:45 GMT.
- When is kick off? Wednesday 5th November, 2025
- What time is kick off? 19:45 GMT
- Where is it played? MATRADE Loftus Road
- Referee: James Bell
QPR vs Southampton last five (competitive) meetings
Date | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|
23 December 2023 | QPR 0-1 Southampton | EFL Championship |
26 August 2023 | Southampton 2-1 QPR | EFL Championship |
7 February 2015 | QPR 0-1 Southampton | Premier League |
27 September 2014 | Southampton 2-1 Preston | Premier League |
2 March 2013 | Southampton 1-2 QPR | Premier League |
Southampton vs QPR head-to-head record
Club | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
Southampton | 48 | 27 | 39 |
QPR | 39 | 27 | 48 |
Southampton team news
Southampton have a growing injury list and Will Still will need to draw on the full depth of his squad.
Shea Charles has a significant hamstring injury that could keep him out for 5-6 weeks. Flynn Downes will come in for Charles if he has shaken off his own injury and illness.
Cameron Archer still has an ankle injury which he picked up at Blackburn Rovers and is doubtful for the matchup with QPR. As a result, Eckert might be forced into a change in formation.
Ross Stewart and Elias Jelert are still injured. Welington is suspended following his red card at Blackburn Rovers. It's difficult to predict Eckert's first team selection.
Predicted Southampton lineup vs Preston: McCarthy; Roerslev, Wood, Harwood-Bellis, Manning; Downes, Jander, Azaz; Scienza, Fellows, Armstrong (4-2-3-1)
QPR team news
John Clarke-Salter, Kwame Poku and Ilias Chair are all back in contention having taken part in training this week.
Predicted Preston lineup vs Southampton: Nardi; Dunne, Morrison, Cook, Esquerdinha; Vale, Hayden, Madsen, Chair; Kone, Burrell (4-4-2)
Southampton vs QPR score prediction
Although Southampton have a good record against QPR this is a very different proposition than in recent times. Short on confidence and points, the Saints may struggle again on Wednesday evening.
A scrappy point might be the best that Saints can hope for, unless Tonda Eckert has some magical pixie dust at his disposal. This could be another difficult evening for already suffering Southampton fans.
QPR will come into this one as favourites and it's difficult to argue with that.