The Blues secured their maiden Championship win since their return to the second tier of English football at the 10th time of asking, with West Ham loanee Freddie Potts and Callum Lang cancelling out Karamoko Dembele’s early opener for the Rs at Loftus Road.
The timely victory lifted John Mousinho’s side off the bottom of the table - a position they found themselves in before kick-off following the Bluebirds’ thumping 5-0 victory against Plymouth earlier in the day. But they were unable to climb back above tonight’s hosts, who now sit 22nd, with their margin of victory against Wayne Rooney’s Pilgrims ensuring they sit above Pompey in the standings on goal difference only.
Tonight’s game presents both clubs with the opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone, to put daylight between them, and to concentrate on climbing the table. But which players will the two teams have to do without for such an important fixture?
Here’s the outs and doubts ahead of kick-off (7.45pm).
13. Cian Ashford - Doubt
The young forward has been struggling with a back injury lately and is a doubt for the visit of the Blues. | Getty Images