Millwall striker Matt Smith gives his verdict on QPR – as two clubs meet in opening Championship fixture

26 July 2021 Richard Cawley

Millwall striker Matt Smith sees no reason why QPR cannot continue to impress in the Championship – but will be hoping they have an off day on August 7.

The Lions kick off their 2021-22 Championship campaign with a trip to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Smith played 102 times for the west Londoners before heading to The Den in July 2019.

QPR warmed up for the new season with a 4-2 win over Manchester United at the weekend. They confirmed the permanent signing of Stefan Johansen from Fulham shortly before kick-off.

It means Johansen, striker Charlie Austin and Jordy de Wijs, integral to their impressive results in the closing months of last season, are back on a full-time basis.

“I think they’ll be good,” Smith told the South London Press. “If you look at the form of the side from January through to the end of the season then they would have finished top three.

“It goes to show the turnaround they had in the second half of the season, bringing in Stefan Johansen and Charlie Austin was a gamechanger – two talents who are right at the top end of the table.

“It’s always going to be a tough game – a derby and up against a really good manager playing a nice brand of football.”