Queens Park Rangers

Julien Stephan picked up his first win as QPR boss against Charlton Athletic at Loftus Road.

"Congratulations to the players, this is the most important. They play, I think they deserve the win today," he told BBC Radio London.

"They start very well for the first 20 minutes. The last 15 minutes [of the first half] we played too low on the pitch for me, so we tried to change some things at half-time.

"The players who came from the bench had a huge impact for the last 30 minutes.

"We had three more players this week which meant more options to start and more options to finish [the game].

"We can see today a huge impact at the end of the game – Koki Saito, [Rayan] Kolli, [Rumarn] Burrell.

"I'm very happy also for Ritchie Kone because he did a top game from the first second until the last second."

QPR will play Saturday's London derby against Charlton Athletic with a "spirit of revenge" after their 7-1 thrashing against Coventry City, head coach Julien Stephan said.

The Hoops were blown away by the Sky Blues and trailed 5-0 at half-time in last weekend's Championship defeat.

QPR have picked up just one point so far and are winless in all competitions since Stephan took over from Marti Cifuentes this summer.

And Stephan said he and his players had had a "studious" week evaluating the manner of their defeat at CBS Arena.

"It was the first time, so it's a new challenge," he told BBC Radio London.

"The most important is to stay focused with the players, to work with them, and you know, after this kind of game, the first difficulty is of course we need to understand what happened on the pitch because we need also to help the players and keep them to play with confidence.

"Because if you don't have any confidence on the pitch, it's impossible to play football."

Charlton have picked up four points from their first three games back in the second tier but come into the match on the back of two consecutive defeats - against Leicester City in the league and away at Cambridge United in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

Abdul Fatawu's 48th-minute winner was the first time the Addicks' defence had been breached in the league this season, and Stephan said the Rs are ready for a tough challenge on Saturday.

"It will be a completely different game, at home, a derby with a spirit of revenge," he said.

"We need to play with our identity but also play cleverly, and we need to be smart because it's not only revenge, it's also a football game, so we need to be very clear with the game plan and very clear with what we want to do on the pitch."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Two London rivals will seek to get back on track in different ways when Charlton head west across the capital to visit QPR on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The R's suffered a 7-1 drubbing at Coventry last Saturday and have picked up a single point from their opening three Championship games under Julien Stephan, while Nathan Jones' Addicks suffered their first defeat of the campaign, being edged out 1-0 by Leicester at the Valley on the same day.

• QPR are unbeaten across their past six home league games against Charlton Athletic (W4 D2) since a 4-2 defeat in October 1997 in the second tier.

• This will be the first league meeting between Charlton Athletic and QPR since a 1-0 win for the Addicks in June 2020. Overall, Charlton have won three of their past five head-to-head league clashes with their London counterparts (D1 L1).

• Last weekend, QPR were defeated 7-1 by Coventry, the 12th time that they've conceded 5+ goals in a Championship match since the EFL rebrand in 2004 – only Barnsley (17) and Huddersfield (13) have suffered that fate on more occasions in this time in the division.

• Charlton have scored the joint-fewest goals in the Championship this season (1), with this the first time the Addicks have scored one or fewer goals through their opening three league games of a campaign since 1970-71 (also one).

• Charlton have lost just one of their past eight league London derbies (W5 D2), though did lose their last in the second tier 2-1 against Brentford in July 2020.

Image source, Getty Images

QPR striker Zan Celar has joined German second tier side Fortuna Dusseldorf, external on a season-long loan.

The Slovenia international moved to Loftus Road from Swiss outfit Lugano last summer.

But the 26-year-old scored just two goals in 22 appearances last season, with both goals coming in a 2-0 win at Cardiff City in November.

He picked up a hamstring injury in December and did not play again last season but played in the Hoops' opening two Championship matches of this term.

QPR have signed Rumarn Burrell and Richard Kone this summer to bolster a strikeforce that also has Michael Frey and Rayan Kolli.

Nathan Albon
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Before the weekend QPR boss Julien Stephan said his side remains "under construction".

If that's so, the 7-1 demolition at Coventry makes me fear for what is left of his building site.

Conceding seven goals in a game for the first time in seven years, QPR only narrowly avoided equalling their club-record heaviest defeat.

If given the opportunity, the next few games will show what Stephan is made of and whether the Frenchman really knows his onions.

It might be time to put the reported £6m Ebere Eze sell-on to good use.

Julien Stephan issued an apology to QPR fans after the humiliating 7-1 hammering at Coventry.

Rangers are yet to win under their new head coach, but the Frenchman insisted there will be a radical improvement against Charlton next Saturday.

"I can promise one thing: it will be a completely different game next week against Charlton. We will react for sure next week," he told BBC London.

"We did a lot of mistakes today. It's unacceptable. We will think about the next week and how we can react.

"This is a big challenge. This is the first time in my career I have to deal with a score like this, but in football you learn a lot.

"I just want to promise that next week it will be completely different and you will see a completely different team."

Coventry City will aim to maintain their unbeaten start to the Championship season when they take on Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (15:00 BST), having begun with a 0-0 draw with Hull City and a 5-3 win at Derby County.

QPR will look to build on a draw and a loss in their opening two Championship fixtures as manager Julien Stephan's side remains "under construction".

• Coventry City have won four of their last six league games against QPR (D1 L1), as many as in their prior 13 encounters.

• QPR have lost five of their last eight away league games against Coventry City (W3), doing so 1-0 in last season's meeting.

• Remaining unbeaten in the Championship so far this season (W1 D1), Coventry City will look to go unbeaten across their opening three games of a league season for the first time since 2019-20.

• QPR have lost seven of their last 10 away league games (W3), while in 2025, only three sides have lost more Championship games than their 11.

• Coventry City have recorded more touches in the opposition's box than any other side in the Championship this season (73), are second for non-penalty expected goals (3.9) and third for possession won in the final third (10).

QPR head coach Julien Stephan has been speaking to BBC Radio London before his side's Championship match at Coventry City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the main talking points:

• Stephan had a "strange feeling" following the 2-1 loss to Watford last time out. He described his team as "under construction" and believed they performed well in the second half but needed to make a faster start. He believes his side will win by playing high quality football for longer.

• QPR's summer incomings need time to adjust to the demands of the Championship. Winning and losing in the right way is important for showing progress through the Championship season and Stephan believes "identity is the most important thing".

• QPR will aim to bring more intensity to their match against Coventry. The Sky Blues have made an unbeaten start to the season, drawing 0-0 with Hull City in their opener and beating Derby County 5-3 at Pride Park.

• Fans shouldn't expect a string of wins to begin the Championship season and Stephan wants the fanbase to be patient as he and the club carry out their project. He said any disappointing results will not reflect the ambition of the club: "When you don't have enough points you don't have to panic and just continue your process."

Listen to Stephan's full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Julien Stephan was annoyed by QPR's poor first-half display in the 2-1 defeat at Watford.

Kieran Morgan pulled a goal back to give Rangers hope, but they were unable to find an equaliser and are still waiting for their first win since Frenchman Stephan took over as head coach.

They were punished for some sloppy defending, with Watford striker Luca Kjerrumgaard scoring twice in the space of four first-half minutes to put the hosts in control.

"Two completely different halves. The first half was too poor, honestly. It was not good enough," Stephan told BBC Radio London.

"The second one was completely different, with more intensity and quality. I'm very happy with the second half but very disappointed with the first.

"It's hard to imagine getting a good result when you only play 45 minutes. We need to react more quickly.

"We want to play like that (in the second half) and want to see the team like this. I hope quickly we will be able to play like this for 90 minutes and not only 45. This is the challenge."

Rangers' next match is away to Coventry City next Saturday.

Birmingham are set to battle Derby and QPR for the signing of £5m-rated Japanese midfielder Koki Saito, 24, who spent time on loan at the R's last season from Belgian club Lommel. (Mike McGrath, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

New Queens Park Rangers signing Richard Kone could make his debut this Saturday (15:00 BST) as they travel to Watford.

The former Wycombe Wanderers striker was highly sought after but has been snapped up by the Hoops as they go in search of their first win of the season.

Watford are also looking for their first victory after an opening loss to Charlton.

• Watford have won just two of their last 11 league games against QPR (D3 L6), a run which has seen the Hornets net multiple goals in just three of those matches.

• QPR have failed to win and failed to score in each of their last two away league games against Watford (D1 L1), last enduring a longer winless run at Vicarage Road between 1998 and 2005 (L4).

• After losing 1-0 to Charlton last weekend, Watford will be looking to avoid losing each of their opening two games of a second tier campaign for the first time since 2003-04.

• QPR finished last season by winning each of their final three Championship away games in succession, last enjoying a longer winning run on the road between November 2021 and January 2022 (run of four).

• On MD1 of the Championship, only Sheffield Wednesday (6) faced more big chances than Watford (4), while no side lost possession in their own defensive third more often than QPR (6).

Image source, Getty Images

Queens Park Rangers defender Ziyad Larkeche faces a long spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ACL knee injury in training which will require surgery.

The left-back signed for the club in 2023 and recently signed a new contract.

The Frenchman has featured 22 times for the Hoops, with previous loan spells at Barnsley and Dundee.

His most recent appearance for the club was in a pre-season friendly against Premier League side Brentford.

"I think it's all about carrying the journey we're on. There is an endgame, it's to ensure there is a legacy of a football club that is established in the Football League that represents the town of Bromley."

Aaron Paul, Jobi McAnuff and Phil Brown are joined by Bromley owner Robin Stanton-Greaves to discuss the EFL after the Ravens' shock win against Ipswich in the Carabao Cup on penalties.

They discuss the season ahead for the clubs in the Championship, new signings for Ipswich and Queens Park Rangers, an all-time EFL starting XI and the goalkeeper howlers from the new season so far.

Listen to the full episode of 72+ and more on BBC Sounds.

Queens Park Rangers have pulled out of signing Schalke forward Pape Meissa Ba following a medical. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Queens Park Rangers head coach Julien Stephan would not be drawn on transfer rumours linking his side with a move for Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone.

The Frenchman was speaking after the Rs surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Plymouth Argyle in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

The Hoops sold last season's League One top scorer Charlie Kelman to Charlton Athletic last month and have sent Alfie Lloyd on loan to Leyton Orient.

Now reports have linked the club with 22-year-old Kone, who scored 21 goals for the Chairboys last season.

But when asked by BBC Sport whether fans could expect to see the young Ivorian wearing QPR colours this season, the former Rennes boss said:

"I want to speak about the QPR players and I can't do anything else so if you want to speak about [Rumarn] Burrell, [Rayan] Kolli and [Emmerson] Sutton, the striker, we can speak.

"I can't speak because it's not QPR's player."

First-half goals from Daniel Bennie and Kolli put the Rs 2-0 up at half-time at Home Park.

But Brendan Wiredu's headed goal halved the deficit inside three minutes of the restart before an Owen Oseni double completed the turnaround for the hosts.

Stephan gave full debuts to Jaiden Putman, Tylon Smith, Alex Wilkie and Jaylan Pearman, as well as introducing Kalen Brunson, Ashley Trujillo, Teddy Tarbotton and Cian Dillon off the bench for their first appearances for the club.

"It was a good opportunity to show the young players, or the very young players, and to give them some experience," Stephan said.

"And if we never put the young players on the pitch, it's not possible for them to have this experience. So, yeah, I think they learn a lot in this game. And they learn also that we need to be focused 100% every time."

Queens Park Rangers have agreed a deal with Wycombe Wanderers to sign Ivorian striker Richard Kone, beating Leicester City and Swansea City to the 22-year-old's signature. (London World), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

QPR head coach Julien Stephan spoke to BBC Radio London after his opening game as boss ended in a 1-1 draw with Preston.

"It was a very good first half performance from the players," Stephan said. "It was not perfect but it was very, very good.

"Sometimes we did not have enough players in the box to finish a situation so we need to learn and improve on that.

"The goal we conceded at the beginning of the second half had an impact on the players and it was a difficult 15-20 minutes after that but they tried.

"I am a little bit disappointed with the result but not the performance."