It’s not been a great start to 2015 for Queens Park Rangers and Harry Redknapp. Infacf, it was not a very good end to 2014 for them, either. They haven’t won a game since the 20th of December, a run of five matches across the league and FA Cup. It’s no secret that they are a far better side at home having won all their 19 points at Loftus Road. Their most recent league game was another defeat on their travels, going down 2-1 to fellow strugglers, Burnley. It means they now hold an unwanted record with the most consecutive away losses in one season. It’s a statistic that will definitely need to improve if they are to stay in the league as they will not accumulate enough points at home to surive.
Following six straight wins which seen them shoot up the table into the top four, Manchester United have failed to win in four of their last five league games, suffering their first defeat since the beginning of November at home to Southampton last week. It was the first time people have really questioned Louis Van Gaal’s style of play and decision making with some peculiar substitutions and an unwillingness to alter his formation despite failing to threaten. The next seven games look very winnable for United but they will have to play a lot better, particularly going forward, if they are to attain the points their fans will demand.
As bad as QPR have been away from home, their home performances have been very impressive for a side in the bottom three. Five wins and four draws from 11 games is on a par with the likes of Newcastle and West Ham who sit in the top half of the table. It’s hard to see them sustaining that however, reinforcing the need to improve on their travels.
Despite a huge outlay on several top attacking players, and an explosive start to life under Van Gaal, United have struggled to find the back of the net recently. They have scored more than one goal only once in their last five games and it’s beginning to turn into a bit of a problem. Radamel Falcao is clears not doing enough in training seeing as he never made the squad for last weeks game. It’s resulted in Angel Di Maria and Marouane Fellaini being deployed in forward roles and neither looked comfortable.
This is a crucial game for both sides but that’s to be expected considering the respective pressures both are under. ‘Rangers have scored at least two goals in seven of their 11 league games at home, including against Liverpool and Manchester City whilst United have conceded in all but two of their away matches. I like both teams to score in this game.
Both teams to score 17/20 @ Betfair
