Ilias Chair delivered a masterclass performance as Queens Park Rangers stormed to a 3-1 victory at Portsmouth in Saturday’s Championship opener, combining two goals and an assist to single-handedly dismantle the hosts’ defence.
The 28-year-old Moroccan international’s impact was immediate and relentless. Portsmouth struck first through Terry Devlin’s long-range effort in the 15th minute, but Chair levelled the contest just 18 minutes later, arriving unmarked in the box to convert Harvey Vale’s cross at close quarters. Seven minutes after that, his vision unlocked the midfield when he threaded Koki Saito through on goal; the Japanese forward’s shot deflected past Nicolas Schmid to hand QPR the lead. Chair then crowned a devastating first-half display by finishing a low delivery from Amadou Mbengue in stoppage time, giving Julien Stéphan’s side a commanding 3-0 half-time advantage.
Chair’s one-man show erases a season of struggles
The significance of this showing cannot be overstated. Chair’s two goals and one assist on the opening day matched his entire goal-involvement tally from 15 Championship appearances in the 2025-2026 season, according to the EFL. In a single match, he has already equalled a season’s worth of impact, signalling a sharp departure from a campaign that saw him marginalised and underperforming. Sky Sports named him man of the match, reflecting a performance that overshadowed every other player on the pitch.
What made QPR’s dominance more striking was the compressed timeframe of their attacking onslaught. All three goals arrived within a 15-minute window, turning the contest into a one-sided affair before half-time. Chair could have even claimed a hat-trick after the interval, only to be denied by Portsmouth’s goalkeeper. His movement, positioning, and decision-making left little doubt that he has reclaimed the form that once made him a creative fulcrum for the club.
Breaking a 26-year curse at Fratton Park
This victory also marked Queens Park Rangers’ first win at Fratton Park since May 2000—a span of more than a quarter-century. The last time they left Portsmouth with three points, Chair was still in single figures. Stéphan’s tactical setup and the attacking patterns he has installed clearly functioned to perfection, but it was Chair’s execution and movement that made the system sing.
With the 2026-2027 campaign now underway, Chair has announced himself as central to QPR’s promotion ambitions. His hunger and precision suggest he is determined to rebuild the reputation that faded during his recent struggles.
