Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of Queens Park Rangers's opening Premier League contest of the season against Hull City. Both sides will be keen to get their campaign off with a win, and on the face of it today's meeting at Loftus Road should be evenly matched.

It is a welcome return to the Premier League for Hoops manager Harry Redknapp, who will today take charge of game number 616 at this level – behind only Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. The former Tottenham Hotspur boss has overlooked a mixed pre-season, with three wins, two draw and two defeats over the summer.

Hull, meanwhile, kicked off their European adventure with a slender victory against Astrencin over two legs to extend their campaign on that front. As highlighted with Swansea City and Wigan Athletic last season, albeit in two different divisions, playing in the Europa League can take effect elsewhere.

With that in mind Steve Bruce has delved into the transfer market to bolster his group of players, and the business to date has been shrewd. Striker Shane Long departed this week, however, and although he only spent seven months on Humberside, his goals will be missed.

Kickoff is now just 50 minutes away, so let's take a look at today's team news...

QPR STARTING XI: Green; Simpson, Caulker, Ferdinand, Dunne, Traore, Mutch, Barton (c), Faurlin, Austin, Remy

Hull STARTING XI: McGregor, Bruce, Chester, Davies (c), Huddlestone, Snodgrass, Livermore, Jelavic, Ince, Robertson, Elmohamady

The big news from a QPR point of view is that summer signing Mauricio Isla misses out due to the fact that he has yet to receive international clearance, but the returning Loic Remy is named in the starting XI. Joey Barton will captain the R's for today's curtain raiser, while Steven Caulker and Jordon Mutch - both signed from Cardiff City - will start at Loftus Road.

Steve Bruce has handed deubuts to Robert Snodgrass, Andy Robertson and Tom Ince, but Jake Livermore will have to make due with a spot on the bench after joining Hull on a permanent deal this summer.

PHOTO: Inside the @HullCity dressing room at Loftus Road #UTT pic.twitter.com/0wRs04lacb — Hull City Official (@HullCity) August 16, 2014

It will be interesting to see how Hull and QPR line up this afternoon following a few months of strengthening. Harry Redknapp has hinted that he will go with a 3-5-2 formation this season, although with Isla absent that may have to wait. Of course, that is the same set up that Bruce favoured during the last campaign, and it had much success at the KC Stadium. The captures of Snodgrass and Ince, two pure wingers, may change the manager's thinking this time around, though.

QPR have made changes off the field as well this week...

PHOTO: Glenn Hoddle is all smiles outside Loftus Road ahead of his first match as #QPR coach #QPRvHUL pic.twitter.com/V8Rbo7hede — QPR FC (@QPRFC) August 16, 2014

Well we have had a look at today's starting lineups, but the contest could well be won by a player on the bench...

QPR SUBS: Murphy, Hill, Phillips, Onuoha, Henry, Hoilett, Zamora

HULL SUBS: Haper, Figueroa, Meyler, Brady, McShane, Aluko, Quinn

PREDICTION: I'm expecting to see a tightly-fought battle in West London this afternoon between two sides likely to be competing in the bottom third of the table come May. QPR will obviously be buoyed by promotion, but Hull have the slight edge having already played 180 minutes of competitive football this season. That said, I'll go with a 1-1 draw.

There is also still time to check out Sports Mole's preview of the game:

UPDATE: Elsewhere this afternoon Swansea City have beat Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford. Not many saw that result coming, but it's a losing start for the new Red Devils manager. What is for certain, we can expect many more results like that throughout this season.

Looking back at last season, QPR began as strong favourites to return to the Premier League, although they had to do it the hard way through the playoffs. Even then, the Hoops were down and out against Derby County in the final, and it was only thanks to Bobby Zamora's late goal against the run of play at Wembley that they secured their spot back in the big time.

It was also a season to remember for Hull who enjoyed arguably their finest ever 12 months. Promotion to the Premier League was followed up by a comfortable 16th-placed finish, while they missed out on FA Cup glory by the finest of margins against Arsenal in the final. It was very nearly the perfect end to a brilliant season on Humberside.

Hull's reward for reaching the FA Cup final is a place in this season's Europa League, which as mentioned they kicked off earlier this month with victory over Astrencin. Next up is Belgian side Lokeren on Thursday, with fixtures coming thick and fast.

So two sides hoping to push on following successful campaigns last time out, and both will be looking for three points today. Incidentally, it's a sell out at Loftus Road today with supporters gripped by Premier League fever once more.

Kickoff now just three minutes or so away, and the two teams are welcomed to the field to a rapturous atmosphere. The beauty of the opening day is the fact that pretty much anything can happen, as highlighted at Old Trafford already today.

KICKOFF! Queens Park Rangers get us underway at Loftus Road.

Ahmed Almohamady looks to bomb down the right-hand side, but he is cut out by Armand Traore. QPR have opted to go with the 3-5-2 formation as expected.

Robertson looks to pick out Jelavic in the box, but Rio Ferdinand managed to clear the ball away. Hull are the side asking the questions in these early stages.

Traore picks out Remy on the edge of the box after charging down the flank, but the striker is dispossessed before he can get the game's first shot away.

CHANCE! The first chance of the game falls Hull's way, and it came about after Robertson picked out Jelavic in the box with a fine cross from out wide. The Croatian striker failed to get the header on target, however, and the ball went over the bar and out for a goal kick.

The Tigers are continuing to press, and Richard Dunner is forced into conceding a corner. The ball bounced around in the area, but the hosts managed to clear their lines well.

Mutch shows a brilliant burst of pace to turn defence into attack, and does well to pick out Loic Remy. The returning striker was unable to return the ball to his teammate in the middle, though, and Hull cleared the ball.

A similar situation for the home side, as once more Remy find the ball in a wide area but is unable to centre it to a blue and white shirt. QPR are now on top - can they make the most of this spell of possession?

CHANCE! Redknapp's side have really upped their game now, and after Remy's shot went out for a corner, the ball fell to Austin who saw his shot well blocked on the edge of the box. It found its way back to Alejandro Faurlin 10 yards out, though, but his effort was scuffed wide from a promising position.

Well Hull have well and truly taken the sting out of the game over the last few minutes. QPR have hardly had a touch of the ball with the Tigers passing the ball around the field.

CHANCE! I think I might have cursed Hull with that last comment, because moments later Austin dispossessed Allan McGregor, picked out Mutch in the middle, but the midfielder fluffed his lines and failed to connect properly with the ball. What on earth was McGregor doing?!

A huge roar echoes around Loftus Road as Bobby Zamora begins warming up. We've played 25 minutes so far, and Hull have just about edged the possession, but it's the Londoners who have created the best openings.

YELLOW CARD! Curtis Davies goes into the box after bringing down Remy a few yards outside the box. The striker is looking lively so far with some nice touches and promising movement as he cuts in from out wide.

Captain Barton steps up to take the free kick, and he is not a million miles away from finding the opener with his bending effort which hits the side-netting.

CHANCE! Another brilliant chance, and it's arguably QPR's two liveliest players who link up. Remy, once more out on the right, picks out Mutch just six yards or so from goal, but the former Cardiff man heads over.

PENALTY SHOUT! All of QPR's solid work in the opening 30 minutes very nearly comes undone. Traore rather stupidly nudges Jelavic in the box, and the striker falls to the ground in a theatrical manner. In my opinion, that's a penalty, but referee Craig Pawson ultimately disagrees.

SHOT! Once more Remy is involved, this time from a more central position, with his strike from the edge of the area forcing McGregor into a stop. The ball was struck right at the Scotland international, though, and it was an easy save to make on the whole.

A little stoppage in play as Snodgrass remains down following a coming together with Barton. The summer recruit has been one of Hull's better players this afternoon, but Ince on the other hand has badly struggled to get into the game.

Play has resumed, and Dunne can consider himself a lucky man after avoiding a caution following a cynical challenge on Jelavic. The fact it was a fair distance away from goal helped his cause.

SUBSTITUTION! Snodgrass's afternoon is over following that challenge. Stephen Quinn comes on in his place.

Sublime vision from Huddlestone who finds Robertson inside the opposition area, the newcomer brings the ball down but is adjudged to be offside before getting a shot away.

OFF THE LINE! Two minutes before the interval and that is the closest we have come to a goal so far. Bruce initially blocked Austin's shot to concede a corner, and from the set piece Caulker's header was cleared off the line by Robertson. The ball came back towards goal, but McGregor did well to readjust and tip it over the bar.

The referee brings a close to the first half following three minutes of additional time. Remy looked to be in just seconds before the close of the goalless 45 minutes, only for Davies to get a toe to the ball when he raced through on goal.

A goalless first half, but by no means a boring 45 minutes. Hull started the livelier of the two without creating any real openings, but the momentum soon swung QPR's way and they will feel disappointed not to be in the lead at the interval.

That said, Hull should have been awarded a penalty following Traore's nudge on Jelavic inside the box, which was waived away by referee Craig Pawson on the half-hour mark.

BENCH WATCH:

QPR: Murphy, Hill, Phillips, Onuoha, Henry, Hoilett, Zamora

HULL: Haper, Figueroa, Meyler, Brady, McShane, Aluko

Options for both manager to turn to then in the second half. Hull have already been forced into once change, with Quinn replacing Snodgrass. Thee Scotland international looked one of Hull's livelier players before leaving the field, while Jelavic has also found himself in some good positions.

The star player so far has been Remy, though, who has at times run the show from his wide starting berth. Mutch has also done well and at times has looked like a striker with his positioning - it's just a shame that his finishing has let him down so far.

SECOND HALF! Hull City get us back underway in West London, and they almost find themselves behind instantly. Austin would have put his side ahead if not for McGregor who came out on top in a 50/50 battle.

No real chances of note so far other than that chance in the opening seconds of the half. McGregor opted to punch a cross into the box rather than crossing, but nothing came of it.

James Chester fires Hull into the lead with a powerful header from a corner. The defender got ahead beat Rio Ferdinand to the ball and found the net to make it 1-0. Ferdinand will not be happy with himself there, but credit to Chester who had just one thing on his mind when that ball came into the area.

At the other end QPR win a corner of their own which is easily cleared before being launched back into the back-post area by Barton. Caulker and Ferdinand get in each others way, though, and the ball sails out of play.

QPR need to up the tempo now as the game has gone rather slow. Mutch is the man tasked with charging forward, but he's gone a little quiet.

Some sloppy play out on the field at the moment, which is doing neither side any good, though of course Hull will be happy if it stays this way. QPR are winning a fair few set pieces, but they are not making the most of them so far. A change is surely imminent.

CHANCE! Could this be the turning point? Substitute Quinn leads a Hull break and he has Jelavic and Ince either side in a three on two situation. He slots in Ince but the winger fails to get the better of Green from a few yards out. Ince really should have conveted, but Green deserves credit for keeping his side in it.

Hull certainly look the more composed in possession now. Green is involved again minutes after pulling off that fine save, collecting a cross in the box to avert any danger. A double change for the hosts looks on the cards.

QPR SUBSTITUTIONS! As expected, Redknapp has now made some changes. Faurlin and Danny Simpson are replaced by Junior Hoilett and Matty Phillips with a little over 20 minutes still to play.

YELLOW CARD! Richard Dunne goes into the book for a foul on Jelavic.

SAVE! Green is needed once more, this time to deny Ince from a free kick which was heading in. Hull look the more likely to add a second of the afternoon right now.

Ince, a mere spectator in the first half, is again involved as he strikes an effort towards goal which Dunne manages to block for a corner.

CHANCE! From the resulting corner the ball lands to Jelavic who looks to volley home, but his effort is once more blocked by Dunne who right now is throwing his body everywhere.

Phillips, fielded in a wing-back position, wins his side a corner following some tricky footwork, but once more the set piece comes of nothing. Disappointing considering QPR have Caulker and Ferdinand inside the box.

QPR SUBSTITUTION! Zamora enters the field to a great reception, replacing Dunne. It's all out attack now for the R's.

QPR have shuffled the pack with Zamora, Remy and Austin now up top, instantly it makes a difference. Phillips swings a nice ball into the box which is cleared behind by Chester. The resulting corner is once more cleared off the line, this time by Huddlestone who tracked back to keep Ferdinand's effort out.

Ferdinand didn't know too much about that attempt, with the ball coming off his knee. Huddlestone did brilliantly to track back to the post, though.

PENALTY TO QPR! What a terrible decision from referee Craig Pawson! The ball from Hoilett is cut out by Bruce with his midriff, but the referee points to the spot claiming that the defender used his hands. Either way Chester had his hands by his side, and that is a cruel decision so late into the game.

PENALTY SAVED!! Austin blows the chance to become a hero by spurning the penalty. Or to be more accurate, McGregor does brilliantly to keep it out down low! Justice has been served.

QPR are throwing everything at their opponents now, but Chester brilliantly cuts out a ball into the box. They are well and truly upping the pressure, though time is running out.

The away side are getting deeper and deeper leaving Jelavic isolated up front. Four long minutes remain for Hull supporters.

CHANCES! So close for QPR! Zamora find himself in a decent position to get a strike at goal inside the box, but he waits too long and Elmohamady gets back to tackle the striker. Seconds later Remy unleashed a shot, yet Green was equal to the attempt which was straight at him.

A winning start to the season for Hull City, but it could have been so different had Austin tucked away that late penalty. QPR will argue that they deserved a share of the spoils, particularly with the late chances created, yet they failed to take their opportunities and the Tigers return to Humberside with all three points.

That's all from me this afternoon, but stick around on Sports Mole as we bring you a full match report and reaction from Loftus Road.