Fulham v QPR
Friday 25th September – Kickoff: 1945hrs
Football – England – Championship
This may not be the biggest or most glamorous of London derbies, but it will mean plenty to both sets of supporters. In terms of the Championship – and league placings – Fulham come into this game four points behind QPR, but they have played a game less, so a win for them on Friday would see them right on the heels of their rivals.
Kit Symons has been in charge of Fulham for just over a year, and has done a reasonable job – most notably guiding them to safety last season. The expectation was that the Cottagers would kick on and look to challenge for a play-off spot this time around. A slow start to the new campaign had people questioning whether or not Symons is the right man to take them forward, but the last few weeks have been a bit more encouraging. Back-to-back wins in the league against Rotherham and Blackburn followed on from a comfortable success in the League Cup against lower league opposition. Since then, they have lost away to Sheffield Wednesday, in the Championship, and at home to Stoke in the Cup. There were positives to take from both performances, however.
Having previewed QPR’s recent home game with Blackburn, not much has changed in terms of the inconsistencies that have plagued Rangers’ season. They drew that particular match 2-2, having gone behind twice. Their weekend fixture saw them draw again, but it will have been looked on more positively as it came away to Hull – a team who are currently fourth in the table. What may have frustrated manager Chris Ramsey is that his team failed to build on a winning position having taken the lead through another Charlie Austin goal. On a positive note, it is another game without defeat and means they have lost just once in their last seven league games. If they can start to turn some of those single points into three, they will certainly be capable of challenging for the play-offs – at they very least.
This has the makings of a very entertaining and open contest between two clubs whose strengths lie in attack. Fulham have yet to keep a clean sheet in any of the their seven championship games this season, but they have managed to score in every game, too. Their opponents on Friday have also been involved in games with plenty of goals, racking up 27 in the eight games they have played to date.
Fulham v QPR Betting Tips
Interestingly, this is the first time these two clubs have met each other at this level since 2001. The four meetings in-between have occurred in the top-flight which is an indication of the ambition and success that both Fulham and QPR have had in the last decade or so. If they are to be competing in the Premier League in 12 month time, these are the type of games they will be looking to win. I have alluded to the attacking nature of both teams and I think that’s the best place to look for a wager on Friday.
Charlie Austin is sitting tip of the top scorers list, and could have a terrific campaign if kept fit. He will be a massive threat for the home defence – one which I doubt they will be able to stop. At the other end, QPR have kept only one clean sheet in four away games, and have struggled for the majority of the season in defence. Both teams to score is a little on the skinny side for my liking, so opt for Over 2.5 goals instead – a bet that has been successful in five of QPR’s eight games, and five of Fulham’s seven.
Over 2.5 goals 4/5 @ Coral
