2023-24 Carabao Cup: First Round – QPR vs Norwich

QPR host Norwich City at Loftus Road in the concluding First Round clash of 2023-24 Carabao Cup. 

The winner of this tie will face another all Championship tie in the Second Round, with an away trip to Bristol City.

 

Team News

Chris Willock could return for QPR after he missed their win at Cardiff with a knock last weekend.

Jack Colback (illness) and Jake Clarke-Salter (fitness) could also be in contention for selection but Jimmy Dunne (shoulder) is still sidelined.

Norwich have no fresh injury concerns to report after their entertaining 4-4 draw at Southampton last weekend.

Jacob Sørensen (pelvis), Borja Sainz and Jonathan Tomkinson (both ankle) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

QPR host Norwich at Loftus Road on Wednesday 16 August in a 7:45pm BST kick-off, untelevised in the UK after the tie was delayed a week due to ongoing pitch rennovations.

 

Stat Attack

• This is QPR’s first-ever League Cup meeting against Norwich.
• Norwich have lost each of their two previous away visits to QPR in all cup competitions (L2).
• QPR are yet to concede at home to Norwich in all cup competitions (W2), during which they lost 3-0 and 2-0 in FA Cup visits in January 1910 and December 1946 respectively.
• QPR have progressed beyond this stage in just one of the last three seasons (W1, L2), which came in 2021-22 season as they reached the Fourth Round where they lost to Sunderland on penalties.
• Norwich have suffered just one defeat in their last five First Round appearances in this competition (W4, L1).

 

Prediction

After a disastrous start to the new season at Watford, QPR rebounded with a much improved attacking display at Cardiff with a clinical end product despite being outplayed overall, which is a foundation that they can build upon here.

Norwich meanwhile have defensive work to do after conceding four sloppy goals at Southampton yet their attacking play was excellent, but they can’t ship goals like they have done in their two opening games otherwise they will hit trouble soon no matter how good their attack is.

Both teams therefore have solid foundations to build upon here but if Norwich can sort out their defensive issues, they might just get a first cup win away at QPR but there certainly should be goals here.

Prediction: QPR 1-2 Norwich

Result: QPR 0-1 Norwich