MATCH PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic vs Queens Park Rangers - Friday 6th February 2026 - 8:01pm KO
Charlton Athletic vs Queens Park Rangers
Friday 6th February 2026 - 8:01pm Kick-Off
Referee: James Bell
Introduction
Charlton returned to winning ways last Saturday after back to back defeats, a 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Sonny Carey and Lyndon Dykes secured all three points against ten man Leicester City. We return to the Valley this coming Friday evening for a "London Derby" with Queens Park Rangers making the journey across from West London.
The Opposition
Name: Queens Park Rangers (11th) - Manager: Julien Stéphan
Ground: Loftus Road
Previous League Result: QPR 2-1 Coventry
The last time these two sides met was early on in the season, with Queens Park Rangers recording a 3-1 victory over the Addicks
Our visitors come into this match having won last time out, a 2-1 win over table topping Coventry City. It was their first victory in four matches, having recorded goalless draws at Stoke and Oxford, and having lost 3-2 against Wrexham... Rangers themselves haven't won back to back games since the start of December, which is one positive, whilst their form on the road is equally lacking, they've just four wins, with the last of those coming back in November, a 1-0 victory at Ewood Park.
It leaves QPR in 11th, but given the nature of the Championship they're just four points from the Play-Offs, whilst defeat at the Valley will equally leave them just five points above their hosts this Friday night - With the Transfer Window now closed, QPR were able to make three additions to their team. Defender; Ronnie Edwards re-joined the club from Southampton, having spent the second half of last season on loan in West London, this time on a permanent deal, whilst Justin Obikwu (Striker) from Coventry and Christian Pullella (Defender) from Perth Glory were also added to the squad in January.
In terms of head2head and Charlton have 19-wins compared to QPR's 21-wins, the visitors haven't won at the Valley since 2007, a 1-0 win... Whilst the last four League games in South East London have resulted in three wins for Charlton, and a solitary draw.
Charlton Team News
Transfer Deadline Day saw the arrival of Kenyan Centre-Back: Collins Sichenje from the Serbian Premier League, his arrival has created quite an impression amongst his countrymen on Social Media, yet given our performance and result at the King Power Stadium. Although I would be surprised if he goes straight into the starting eleven, or even appears on the bench this Friday night.
The one concern from the team that beat Leicester, will be departure at Half-Time for Miles Leaburn. The Academy Graduate has become an integral part of our forward line, yet was spotted wearing a sling at the end of the game, so could be a doubt - As a result Nathan Jones could opt to give Matty Godden his first start since the Play-Off Final, the Striker did look sharp against Leicester. Otherwise we could see an ex-QPR pairing of Dykes and Kelman, both of whom have plied their trade at Loftus Road in the past.
Kaminski
Ramsay - Jones - Bell
Clarke - Coady - Docherty - Chambers
Carey
Godden - Dykes
Substitutes: Mannion - Sichenje - Fevrier - Gillesphey - Coventry - Costello - Campbell - Kelman - Berry
Comments
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My lineup would be
Sichenje
Sichenje Sichenje Sichenje
Sichenje Sichenje Sichenje SichenjeSichenjeSichenje Sichenje60 -
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2-1 to QPR without the aid of red cards...1
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I actually think it will be FA’s team but with Kelman/TC instead of Godden up front. Give Matty 30 mins to run at them with fresh legs10
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fenaddick said:I actually think it will be FA’s team but with Kelman/TC instead of Godden up front. Give Matty 30 mins to run at them with fresh legsWouldn't be surprised to see Coventry come back in for Coady or Docherty eitherThat was the other aspect of the team that I was a little bit uncertain of - Wont be surprised if at home, we see a bit more of an "attacking" line-up, whilst on the road, we'll see a repeat of the Leicester twam5
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I was actually amazed how sharp he looked considering his injury. Looked a lot leaner as well. I would agree, start both Dykes and Kelman with something to prove against their former team. Give godden the last 30fenaddick said:I actually think it will be FA’s team but with Kelman/TC instead of Godden up front. Give Matty 30 mins to run at them with fresh legs12 -
Seems like they all are but this game is massive. QPR don’t seem to travel too well this season but they’re comfy mid table and just off the back of beating leaders Coventry 2 - 1 albeit at Loftus Road. Won’t be easy and we’ll need to score to get anything I think. 1 - 15
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A score draw. QPR have drawn three of the their last four Championship away games5
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Our family Derby this one, here's hoping 2-0 Addicks3
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We need to win. Credit to the players and Jones for the response against Leicester, but with the onus being on us at home, and needing the points, I’ll be watching carefully to see how we tackle it. Last week’s game really gave Jones the chance to set up in his preferred style, but this week, there’s nowhere to hide. We need to show some class and urgency getting forward. QPR will be tough, but with the greatest respect, I don’t want to see us nervous and unsure on the ball, sitting deeper as the game goes on.Jones and the players better be up for this. London derby and we need to show up after the poor defeat there in August5
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Charlton 0 QPR 2, have not got over being at the away match.
I know we have a nearly new team , but just can not get past that performance.3 -
min 6 points from the next 3 home games please, I think we'll sneak this 2-1
Dykes and Godden (again) with a late winner to send the covered end crazy5 -
QPR are not great away while our fresh blood injection appears to have provided some renewed positivity. A draw would do here but I fancy us for a narrow win under the Valley floodlights 2-1 with Dykes haunting his old club.7
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Wonder how Leaburn is?4
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Comfortable 4-0 win...gotta happen sometime, why not Friday...🤷♂️4
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QPR have won 2 of their last 10 away and one of those was back on 22nd October. Their most recent away win was 26th November against Blackburn. Other than that though they've unhelpfully dropped points against Norwich, Pompey, West Brom and Oxford in that run so we really need to take advantage of their away form because the other teams around us have already. You'd hope on a Friday night with a hopefully busy Valley we'll be able to do enough to get the 3 points and instil a bit of confidence in this team. If we can beat QPR and win our big games against Pompey, Oxford, West Brom and Sheff Weds then that should hopefully be enough.8
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It wasn't as bad as you're making out. At 1-1 we looked like the team that might win it.msomerton said:Charlton 0 QPR 2, have not got over being at the away match.
I know we have a nearly new team , but just can not get past that performance.18 -
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Great preview as always FA.
One of the most annoying things about being in the championship is the lack of games kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday.
All 4 London derbies this season have not been played at 3pm on a Saturday.
This Friday will be the first of 3 consecutive home games that are all played midweek.
Pisses me off massively.
Anyway as for the game itself I'm feeling far more confident following last Saturday's display.
One thing I would like to see is Coady continuing to play in midfield, either starting with Docherty and having Coventry on the bench or starting with Coventry and having Docherty on the bench.
Not expecting everyone to agree with me but the Coventry, Docherty partnership doesn't work for me.
No idea how bad Leaburns injury is but if he's not fit i expect Kelman to replace him with Godden getting 30 minutes later on.
The 50 points total is still the target and hopefully we can add another 3 points to it on Friday.
2 1 Charlton.9 -
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Good preview @ForeverAddickted.
I’m over for this one and Pompey the following week so expecting total domination!5 -
Do you not mean the Stoke game? - Thats next week, the Pompey game is the week afterLoOkOuT said:Good preview @ForeverAddickted.
I’m over for this one and Pompey the following week so expecting total domination!0 -
why is it a 8.01pm?
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Every minute mattersKarim_myBagheri said:why is it a 8.01pm?
https://www.efl.com/news/2026/january/21/all-72-efl-clubs-shift-kick-off-times-by-one-minute-to-highlight-power-of-life-saving-cpr/
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No, gonna miss out on Stoke unfortunately once it was rearranged as we’ll be out of London for a bit. It was a “figurative” next week!ForeverAddickted said:
Do you not mean the Stoke game? - Thats next week, the Pompey game is the week afterLoOkOuT said:Good preview @ForeverAddickted.
I’m over for this one and Pompey the following week so expecting total domination!2 -
2-1
Collins 96th min winner obviously2 -
Agree, we weren't at our best but were well in the game up until the last 20 mins or so. From memory, Leaburn hit the bar at 1-1 which could have meant a very different game had it gone incafcnick1992 said:
It wasn't as bad as you're making out. At 1-1 we looked like the team that might win it.msomerton said:Charlton 0 QPR 2, have not got over being at the away match.
I know we have a nearly new team , but just can not get past that performance.3 -
That typo reminds me when a talented but young and naive (at the time) colleague had recently joined work, he read a spreadsheet and asked “what’s a twam?”ForeverAddickted said:fenaddick said:I actually think it will be FA’s team but with Kelman/TC instead of Godden up front. Give Matty 30 mins to run at them with fresh legsWouldn't be surprised to see Coventry come back in for Coady or Docherty eitherThat was the other aspect of the team that I was a little bit uncertain of - Wont be surprised if at home, we see a bit more of an "attacking" line-up, whilst on the road, we'll see a repeat of the Leicester twam
Three of us started laughing and called him Twam for a while. Classic times.
2-2 on Friday btw and social media fun when Sichenje doesn’t make his debut.1 -
That's the time QPR turn up, by that time we should be out of sight...😉Karim_myBagheri said:why is it a 8.01pm?6 -
Someone seems over confident by that...eastterrace6168 said:
That's the time QPR turn up, by that time we should be out of sight...😉Karim_myBagheri said:why is it a 8.01pm?
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