Derby v QPR Betting Tip 1 – 24 May 2014

Championship Tips

Steve McLaren started the season as assistant manager to Harry Redknapp at QPR and will end the season as manager of the side who stand in the way of his former employees earning promotion. He took over at Pride Park following the sacking of Nigel Clough back in September. There’s no doubting the job that he has done since taking over and he has not only made the squad successful but he’s done it by playing an attractive brand of football. They were the top scorers in the Championship at the end of the regular season before racking up six goals against Brighton in their semi-final play-off match. There’s no doubt that their major strength is going forward and the amount of chances they can create, but they’re also able to grind results out as proved when they were 1-0 winner over QPR at home back in February.

QPR had to endure extra time against Wigan in their semi-final but they made it through eventually and will be hoping that they can secure a return to the Premier League after suffering relegation last season. Aside from getting through that match, the other positive was that Charlie Austin scored both goals in the second leg which signalled his importance to the cause. When he was injured earlier in the season it was no coincidence that Rangers’ form dipped somewhat and they never looked anywhere near as potent going forward. Despite it being a stop start season for the player, he’s still the club’s top scorer and by some way as well. After his 19 goals league goals, the next best is Ravel Morrison with 6. It’s an indication of where they have struggled this season but that will mean little if Austin can carry them through one more game.

Derby have not played Premier League football since 2008 but they are favourite to return to the top flight due to their more impressive form heading into the final. They have won seven of their last eight and lost only one of their last 10. Its tremendous form and they will rightly be in confident mood. That confidence will be even greater with the news that midfielder Craig Bryson, is fit enough to start after missing the second leg of the semi due to injury.

Harry Redknapp had never experienced the play-offs before but he knows what it takes to win big games and that includes finals at Wembley. He’s won the FA Cup with Portsmouth at this venue so he’s no stranger to success on the biggest stage. With so much pressure and expectation on himself and his players heading into the season, anything less than promotion would be deemed a failure. They have missed out on going up automatically but missing out altogether is not a viable option with a budget such as theirs.

It’s a match which has been termed the most expensive game in football with the luxuries on offer for earning promotion to the English Premier League. We know to expect the unexpected in these type of matches and with one win apiece during the regular season, it’s bound to be a tight affair. I think Derby have more variety in their play and that may well be the difference come the end of the game.

Derby  16/11 @ 888Sport