Match report

QPR Defeats Watford 2-1 in Championship Clash

QPR
QPR
2–1
FT
Watford
Watford
Apr 3, 2026

In a closely contested Championship match, QPR secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Watford. The game was marked by early and late goals, with R. Kolli and P. Smyth scoring for QPR, while I. Louza managed a consolation goal for Watford in the dying moments of the game. Both teams exchanged yellow cards throughout, but QPR's early lead proved decisive in their fight for a higher league position.

Key Facts

  • • QPR's R. Kolli scored the opening goal in the 26th minute, assisted by P. Smyth.
  • • P. Smyth added a second for QPR in the 63rd minute.
  • • I. Louza scored for Watford in the 85th minute, reducing the deficit.
  • • Watford's E. Bove and P. Ekwah received yellow cards, as did QPR's R. Kolli and Jimmy Dunne.

Lineups

QPR

Formation: 4-4-2

Starting XI

  • 13 Joe Walsh (G)
  • 27 Amadou Salif Mbengue (D)
  • 3 Jimmy Dunne (D)
  • 37 Ronnie Edwards (D)
  • 18 Rhys Norrington-Davies (D)
  • 20 Harvey Vale (M)
  • 21 Kieran Morgan (M)
  • 40 Jonathan Varane (M)
  • 11 Paul Smyth (M)
  • 22 Richard Kone (F)
  • 26 Rayan Kolli (F)

Substitutes

  • 23 Daniel Bennie
  • 14 Koki Saito
  • 17 Kwame Poku
  • 6 Jake Clarke-Salter
  • 5 Steve Cook
  • 2 Kealey Adamson
  • 15 Isaac Hayden
  • 28 Esquerdinha
  • 29 Ben Hamer

Watford

Formation: 4-4-2

Starting XI

  • 1 Egil Selvik (G)
  • 4 Kévin Keben Biakolo (D)
  • 6 Matthew Pollock (D)
  • 3 Saba Goglichidze (D)
  • 29 Jeremy Petris (D)
  • 66 Nestory Irankunda (M)
  • 15 Edoardo Bove (M)
  • 17 Pierre Ekwah (M)
  • 8 Giorgi Chakvetadze (M)
  • 9 Luca Kjerrumgaard (F)
  • 10 Imrân Louza (F)

Substitutes

  • 20 Mamadou Doumbia
  • 23 Nampalys Mendy
  • 53 Amin Nabizada
  • 34 Kwadwo Baah
  • 18 Vivaldo
  • 7 Thomas Ince
  • 27 Formose Mendy
  • 50 Joshua Mullins
  • 12 Nathan Baxter

Timeline

  1. Watford
    23' Watford Card · Yellow Card
    E. Bove
  2. QPR
    26' QPR Goal · Normal Goal
    R. Kolli · Assist: P. Smyth
  3. QPR
    29' QPR Card · Yellow Card
    R. Kolli
  4. QPR
    30' QPR Card · Yellow Card
    Jimmy Dunne
  5. QPR
    46' QPR subst · Substitution 1
    Off: R. Kolli · On: D. Bennie
  6. Watford
    49' Watford Card · Yellow Card
    P. Ekwah
  7. Watford
    57' Watford subst · Substitution 1
    Off: E. Bove · On: A. Nabizada
  8. Watford
    57' Watford subst · Substitution 2
    Off: N. Irankunda · On: M. Doumbia
  9. Watford
    57' Watford subst · Substitution 3
    Off: P. Ekwah · On: N. Mendy
  10. QPR
    61' QPR Card · Yellow Card
    P. Smyth
  11. Watford
    62' Watford Card · Yellow Card
    S. Goglichidze
  12. QPR
    63' QPR Goal · Normal Goal
    P. Smyth
  13. QPR
    72' QPR subst · Substitution 2
    Off: P. Smyth · On: K. Saito
  14. Watford
    73' Watford subst · Substitution 4
    Off: G. Chakvetadze · On: Kwadwo Baah
  15. QPR
    79' QPR subst · Substitution 3
    Off: H. Vale · On: K. Poku
  16. QPR
    84' QPR Card · Yellow Card
    R. Kone
  17. Watford
    85' Watford subst · Substitution 5
    Off: S. Goglichidze · On: V. Semedo
  18. Watford
    85' Watford Goal · Normal Goal
    I. Louza
  19. QPR
    87' QPR Card · Yellow Card
    Amadou Salif Mbengue
  20. Watford
    90'+1 Watford Card · Yellow Card
    I. Louza

Match Stats

Stat QPR Watford
Fouls 20 15
Pass Accuracy 75% 77%
Offsides 1 2
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 15 7
Corners 2 3
Total Passes 335 391
Yellow Cards 6 4
Blocked Shots 3 2
Shots on Target 8 3
xG 2.40 0.34
Shots off Target 4 2
Possession 46% 54%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 252 303
Shots Inside Box 11 1
Saves 2 6
Shots Outside Box 4 6

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ QPR's early lead through R. Kolli's goal in the 26th minute set the tone for the match.
  • ▸ P. Smyth's second goal for QPR in the 63rd minute secured a two-goal advantage, despite Watford's late effort to reduce the deficit.