Ilias Chair delivered a decisive double, steering Queens Park Rangers to a dramatic 3-1 comeback win over Portsmouth and securing the club's first victory at Fratton Park in a quarter of a century. The match began with Portsmouth asserting early dominance, controlling possession and creating chances throughout the first thirty minutes.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 15th minute when Northern Ireland international Terry Devlin unleashed a spectacular long‑range strike that curled into the top corner, giving the home side a deserved lead. Despite the early setback, QPR responded with renewed vigor.
Their breakthrough came after a series of quick exchanges that saw a corner from Adrian Segecic headed wide by Conor Shaughnessy. Shortly thereafter, summer signing Luke Brooke‑Smith unleashed a powerful shot from roughly 25 yards, only to be comfortably saved by Portsmouth's new goalkeeper, Pierce Charles. The visitors, however, were not to be discouraged. In the 12th minute, a poorly cleared Portsmouth corner presented Chair with a golden opportunity; his effort was blocked at the goal line by defender Ebou Adams, but the rebound underscored QPR's growing threat.
The turning point arrived just before the half‑hour mark when Chair found the back of the net. After Harvey Vale delivered a low cross into the box, Chair, left unmarked, pounced and toe‑poked the ball home from point‑blank range, equalising for QPR and shifting the momentum. The equaliser sparked a flurry of activity; within the next fifteen minutes, QPR rattled off two more goals, completing a remarkable swing in fortunes. The first of these came when Koki Saito, operating just inside the penalty area, struck a shot that ricocheted off both Devlin and Rocco Shein before looping over the helpless Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid, making the score 2-1.
The final strike of the half arrived in stoppage time when Chair, capitalising on a well‑timed cross from Amadou Mbengue, slotted home his second goal of the evening, cementing a 3-1 lead heading into the break. Portsmouth attempted to claw back into the contest early in the second half.
Charles, playing a more adventurous role, threaded a pass directly to new signing Abu Kamara, who found himself one‑on‑one with the keeper. However, Kamara's composure faltered and he merely nudged the ball at the open net, missing a chance to narrow the gap.
Throughout the remainder of the game, Portsmouth struggled to regain their early rhythm, while QPR's manager Julien Stephan praised his side's discipline and adherence to the game plan. "The atmosphere here is always intense, and Portsmouth started brightly, but they couldn't sustain that tempo," Stephan observed.
"Our players remained calm, stuck to the strategy, and executed our chances efficiently." Chair was named man of the match, his performance nearly completing a hat‑trick before Nicolas Schmid produced a reflex save at the near post. Substitute Josh Murphy added a few late attempts, but the visitors' defence held firm, and Portsmouth never truly threatened to overturn the deficit.
Post‑match, Portsmouth captain John Mousinho reflected on the team's collapse: "We controlled the first 25 minutes and earned a rightful lead, but after scoring we seemed to lose focus. The goal we conceded drained our energy, leading to poor decisions and a loss of dominance. We created chances in the second half but also gave away too many opportunities, leaving us with too much to do." Stephan echoed a similar sentiment, emphasizing the need for improvement while remaining optimistic: "We managed the first half well, and although we missed a chance to extend our lead in the second half, overall I’m pleased.
We must work on a few aspects, but the positive takeaway is the resilience we showed in a difficult venue." The match also featured notable debuts, with QPR handing league introductions to goalkeeper Pierce Charles and midfielder Boy Kemper, while Portsmouth started new recruit Abu Kamara in the lineup. The crowd of nearly 21,000 spectators enjoyed a sunny South Coast afternoon, witnessing a game that swung dramatically from early Portsmouth control to a commanding QPR victory. The result not only broke a 26‑year winless streak for QPR at Fratton Park but also highlighted Chair's emerging status as a key attacking threat for the club.
The win provides a morale boost for QPR as they look ahead to upcoming fixtures in the Championship, while Portsmouth will need to regroup and address the lapses that cost them dearly in this encounter.