Queens Park Rangers have set a top six finish as their explicit aim for this Championship season. Captain Jimmy Dunne made the declaration, offering supporters a concrete goal after years of mid-table finishes.
Dunne outlined the ambition at a recent Fans Forum. "The ambition and aim is to be a top six side this season," he said. The statement marks a shift for a club whose average league position over the last eleven years is 15th. Their highest finish in that period is ninth.
Strong start underpins belief
The target is underpinned by a strong start to the campaign. QPR sit fifth in the table after seven games, with three wins, three draws and just one defeat. They have the joint-best defensive record in the division, having conceded only five goals. Manager Julien Stephan, 46, has emphasised "standards" as key to their early resilience.
Their recent form shows one win, three draws and one loss from the last five outings. That sequence includes a 2-2 draw with Preston North End last Saturday, where late goals from Kwame Poku and Paul Smyth salvaged a point after going two down. You can review the full sequence of results on our fixtures page.
Preston visit Loftus Road
Next up is the visit of Preston North End to Loftus Road this Saturday. Preston arrive in deep trouble, sitting 23rd with just one win and six losses from their seven matches. They have lost six of their first seven games, risking their worst ever start, and have not kept a clean sheet in 25 consecutive matches.
Their manager Paul Heckingbottom was sacked after a home loss to Lincoln, with Jason Euell now in temporary charge. Captain Ali McCann is injured and will miss the match. QPR will be without several players, including Ilias Chair and Tariq Lamptey, whose absence is detailed on our injuries list. Captain Jimmy Dunne is available despite an ankle issue.
The match kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday, September 19, as part of Sky’s Super Saturday Brunch Spectacular. QPR remain unbeaten on the road this season after draws at Charlton and West Brom, and their only defeat was a narrow 1-0 loss to title favourites Middlesbrough. The club's aim is now to turn solid draws into wins and mount a sustained push. After the Preston game, QPR's next fixture is away to West Ham on October 9.
Background and full detail: fansnetwork.co.uk
