Match Preview | City vs. Queens Park Rangers
Cardiff City welcome Queens Park Rangers to Cardiff City Stadium in the first home match of the league campaign on Saturday, August 12th, 3pm KO.
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OPPOSITION FOCUS | IN THE DUGOUT
QPR’s boss is 50-year-old Gareth Ainsworth, who was appointed in February 2023, replacing previous manager Neil Critchley.
During his playing career, Ainsworth represented the likes of Preston North End, Lincoln City, Port Vale and Wimbledon, prior to having a short spell at Cardiff City in 2003.
Ainsworth went on to make over 100 league appearances for Queens Park Rangers between 2003 and 2010, also playing a century of games for Wycombe Wanderers.
Starting his managerial career in 2012, the Hoops boss began with his former club Wycombe Wanderers.
Ainsworth led the Chairboys to promotion from League Two in 2018 and from League One in 2020.
Beginning his first full season in charge of QPR this season, Rangers opened their Championship campaign with a 4–0 defeat at Watford.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | SUMMER SIGNINGS
Ahead of the new campaign, QPR made six additions to their squad in the hope of improving on their 20th place finish last season.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begović has joined on a free transfer after departing Everton, while Welsh left-back Morgan Fox has arrived from Stoke City.
Fellow full-back Ziyad Larkeche has been signed from Fulham, with the versatile Jack Colback joining after his departure from Nottingham Forest.
Midfielder Taylor Richards has made his loan move from Brighton and Hove Albion permanent, while winger Paul Smyth has re-joined the club from Leyton Orient.
A seventh new signing, Steve Cook, arrived at Loftus Road from Nottingham Forest earlier this week.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | KEY PLAYER
QPR’s most dangerous player is Moroccan international Ilias Chair, who joined the club in 2017.
Since then, the playmaker has made over 150 league appearances, netting 27 goals.
In the Championship last season, Chair found the net on five occasions, also contributing with nine assists.
The attacking midfielder also has experience at international level, having accumulated 12 caps for Morocco.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | CLUB CONNECTION
This weekend could see the Bluebirds face off against winger Albert Adomah, who was a popular figure at the Club during his loan spell in the 2019/20 season.
Joining on deadline day in the January transfer window, Adomah went on to make nine league appearances for City.
The 35-year-old played his part in the Bluebirds’ fifth-place finish under Neil Harris, which included seven wins in the final ten games of the regular season.
Signing for QPR in 2020, Adomah has since made over 100 league appearances for the R’s.
