Preview: Cardiff City vs. Queens Park Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

The Bluebirds started their campaign with an exciting draw at Leeds United, whilst QPR were well beaten by Valerien Ismael's Watford at Vicarage Road.

Match preview

Cardiff travelled to recently-relegated Leeds on Sunday afternoon and returned to South Wales with a very respectable point, although it could have been so much better for the Bluebirds.

Some excellent counter-attacking play had the visitors two goals ahead at Elland Road with new signings Josh Bowler and Ike Ugbo getting on the scoresheet, however second-half strikes from Liam Cooper and Crysencio Summerville forced a share of the spoils.

Wednesday night saw Erol Bulut's side commence their EFL Cup journey against Colchester United, with goals from Rubin Colwill and Kion Etete not enough to prevent the game from going the penalty kicks - ones that Cardiff prevailed in to book their place in round two.

Aaron Ramsey has been the marquee signing for the Welsh side so far this summer, although the arrivals of second-tier stalwarts Karlan Grant and Yakou Meite should not be underappreciated.

The Bluebirds really struggled to pose an attacking threat in front of their own supporters last term, making the net ripple just 20 times in 23 home league matches, with only Wigan Athletic managing fewer at home in last year's Championship.

With an EFL Cup clash with Norwich City scheduled for Tuesday night, QPR have had a full week to dwell on a massively worrying start to their Championship season at Watford last Saturday.

Gareth Ainsworth may have assumed that his side had got their annual thumping out of the way in a 5-0 loss at Oxford United on July 29, however that hope was quickly destroyed when Tom Dele-Bashiru scored after 40 seconds at Vicarage Road for the Hornets.

Imran Louza, Matheus Martins and Vakoun Issouf Bayo all got on the scoresheet before the half-time interval to put the game beyond the visiting R's, with the second period turning into a formality in Hertfordshire.

QPR stumbled to Championship safety following the sacking of Neil Critchley in the middle of the 2022-23 term, and the West Londoners have only tasted victory once at Loftus Road in 2023.

Saturday's visitors are one of the favourites for relegation to League One this season, and not many of their supporters will be expecting a result in South Wales against Cardiff on Saturday.

Cardiff City Championship form:

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

D

L

L

D

D

W

Queens Park Rangers Championship form:

Queens Park Rangers form (all competitions):

L

W

D

W

L

L

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Team News

Cardiff could be without the services of influential midfielder Joe Ralls on Saturday, after the 29-year-old was forced off in the first half at Elland Road in his side's Championship opener.

Ebou Adams was thrown into the midfield battle alongside Ryan Wintle at Leeds, and that duo should start the contest with a wounded QPR side this weekend.

Jak Alnwick produced a very impressive display in Yorkshire as the Bluebirds came under intense pressure from Daniel Farke's men, and with first-choice goalkeeper Ryan Allsopp recovering from injury, the 30-year-old should retain this place between the sticks.

QPR have moved quickly in the transfer market this week to address their injury crisis at centre-back, with Steve Cook signing a two-year deal following his departure from Nottingham Forest.

Both Jimmy Dunne and Jake Clarke-Salter remain sidelined ahead of their team's trip to South Wales, meaning it will likely be a partnership of Cook and Morgan Fox at the heart of the visitors' defence.

Chris Willock has been a standout performer for the R's over the past two years, and the former Arsenal youngster should start ahead of Charlie Kelman this weekend.

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Alnwick; Ng, Goutas, McGuiness, O'Dowda; Adams, Wintle, Bowler, Ramsey, Grant; Ugbo

Queens Park Rangers possible starting lineup:

Begovic; Kakay, Fox, Cook, Paal; Dozzell, Field, Chair, Willock, Armstrong; Dykes

We say: Cardiff City 3-1 Queens Park Rangers

Cardiff will be full of confidence after their performance against Leeds last time out, and the home faithful will be expecting maximum points against an out-of-form QPR side.

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