QPR v Manchester City Betting Preview

QPR: League Position 12th,
League Form: DLDWL

QPR have come into the Premiership full of ambition, spent a little bit of money and made quite a lot of noise. Yet, they have won one game at home of their five so far. On paper, three points against Chelsea is a fantastic result. However, the nine-men of Chelsea completely outplayed Neil Warnock’s side, and the penalty top scorer (with two goals) Helguson scored was all that separated the two sides.

As a team who has only scored three home goals so far this term, it is clear they are underperforming in front of their own fans. Loftus Road has seen only one away win, a 4-0 thrashing by strugglers Bolton, and aside from them and Chelsea, Blackburn, Villa and Newcastle have come to see the R’s in London. Not a terrifying fixture list.

The two signings of class have slotted well into the side. Joey Barton and Shaun Wright-Phillips look like players who could grace better sides frankly. The worrying investment has been at the back. Fitz Hall is not a defender any Premier League striker was scared of seeing come into the Premiership, yet his replacement signings have struggled to hold a place in the sides they represented before. West Ham fans will tell you Danny Gabbidon and Anton Ferdinand have not been top Premier League quality for years. Gabbidon was never first choice in the Hammers side relegated last year, whilst Ferdinand was not first pick for Sunderland. Building from the back might be hard.

QPR v Manchester City match odds

Arsenal

Stopping Manchester City this season is not a task that the Premier League can handle at the moment. Dropping points away at Craven Cottage was due more to complacency, having been two nil up and coasting. Their last four games have produced 20 goals, with City scoring 17 of those.

The depth of their squad has kept them ticking over, always ready for midweek and weekend ties. Wednesday night Champions League victory over Villarreal was achieved without the 18 goals of Edin Dzeko and Sergio Ageuro. Vincent Kompany will miss this match due to suspension, whilst David Silva could also be missing due to injury, yet there is no doubt that their squad can cover for the losses.

In only one game this season have City failed to score, their away Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, but not once in the Premiership have they not scored. 20 away goals is a record to be feared, with their 28+ goal difference overall worth a point on its own, and it is hard to see anyone stopping them.

Match Prediction: Man City Win – 1.36 Victor Chandler.

QPR may have beaten Chelsea at home this season, but they did not deserve those three points on the day and the blues of Stamford Bridge had only nine-men. The blues heading into Loftus Road this weekend are not only playing better football, they are securing a lot better results.

There is also little to suggest QPR can either hurt City or hold them off. Unwanted defenders, none of their back four were regulars from the teams they signed them off, whilst DJ Campbell and Jay Bothroyd were signed from Championship clubs, Heidar Helguson has struggled to make an impact on the Premier League in recent history and Adel Taarabt is yet to convince this season.

And then you consider the little Argentinean with nine goals this season, almost definite of a starting place after a rest midweek, and it is hard to see any QPR defender being happy to face him. 20 goals from five away games, four goals a game, against a team who are struggling at home. Nine of City’s ten games have finished with over 2.5 goals, and a competition of who can score more looks set to end well for Roberto Mancini’s side.

Highlighted Bets

Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals – 1.57 Coral
First Goalscorer: Sergio Aguero – 4.5 Bet 365
Correct Score: 3-0 Man City – 10.00 Paddy Power

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By Chris Wilkerson

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