Ilias Chair Shines in QPR's Victory Over Portsmouth

Ilias Chair walked back into Fratton Park like a man intent on settling a few scores.

Out for four months with a calf injury as QPR’s season fell apart last year, the 28-year-old reminded everyone exactly what Rangers had been missing, scoring twice and creating another in a ruthless 3-1 win over Portsmouth – only their second victory at this ground in three decades.

Devlin lights it up, Portsmouth on top

For 20 minutes, this looked like Portsmouth’s afternoon.

John Mousinho’s side, entering their third season back in the Championship with genuine ambitions of pushing on, flew out of the blocks. Conor Shaughnessy headed over, debutant Luke Brooke-Smith forced a save, and QPR struggled to get out.

The breakthrough, when it came on 15 minutes, was worth the wait.

A QPR clearance from a free-kick never got far enough. Ebou Adams pounced, spotting Terry Devlin in space more than 30 yards from goal. Devlin didn’t hesitate. His right-footed drive swerved wickedly, arcing away from Northern Ireland team-mate Pierce Charles and ripping into the net. A fabulous strike, and a lead Portsmouth fully deserved.

Fratton Park roared. Portsmouth smelled blood. But they never landed the second punch.

Chair flips the script

QPR had come with a clear plan: soak up pressure, break quickly, trust their forwards to finish.

On 33 minutes, that plan ripped through Portsmouth’s back line. Harvey Vale lifted a clever, looping ball into the danger area. What followed was chaos in slow motion. Goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid stayed put, his defence did the same, and Chair ghosted in to prod home from close range. One ball, one touch, 1-1. Portsmouth’s bright start undone by a moment of dreadful defending.

The equaliser rattled the hosts. QPR smelled uncertainty and went after it.

Seven minutes later, they sliced through again. Chair found space on the break, carried the ball with purpose, then slid it into Koki Saito’s path. The Japan international’s shot took a telling deflection off Devlin and wrong-footed Schmid. From trailing and under pressure to 2-1 up with their second shot on target. Clinical barely covers it.

Julien Stephan’s side weren’t done.

Deep into first-half stoppage time, Amadou Mbengue surged down the right, unchallenged and full of intent. His low cross picked out Chair, completely unmarked in the box. One composed finish later, QPR had scored with all three of their efforts on target and led 3-1. Portsmouth’s early swagger had been shredded by the precision of Rangers’ counter-attacks.

Portsmouth chase, QPR hold firm

The second half became a story of missed chances and rising frustration for the home crowd.

Shaughnessy wasted a golden opportunity, heading a free effort wide when he should at least have tested Charles. Then came a moment that summed up Portsmouth’s afternoon: Charles, so assured for most of the game, kicked the ball straight to debutant Abu Kamara. With the goal inviting him, Kamara’s finish lacked conviction and the QPR keeper redeemed himself with a simple save.

Portsmouth kept pushing. Marko Milovanovic was denied by Charles, Rocco Shein snatched at a chance he should have done far better with, and substitute Josh Murphy – back after groin surgery – flashed a dangerous strike across goal that begged for a touch.

The pressure kept coming. The net never bulged.

QPR, by contrast, barely needed another opening. The damage had been done in that ruthless first-half spell, built on Chair’s intelligence, movement and cold-blooded finishing.

Portsmouth left with regrets and questions. QPR left with something far more valuable: a statement away win, a revived talisman, and the sense that, with Chair fit and firing, this season does not have to follow the script of the last.