Wednesday’s loss at home to Arsenal was QPR’s seventh defeat in their last eight games, prolonging their winless run at Loftus Road all the way back to the 20th of December. New manager Chris Ramsey, who took over from Harry Redknapp, has managed only one win but it was an important one as it was their first points away from home all season. Unfortunately, since that impressive 2-0 win at Sunderland, they have loss both games and, combined with the sides above them picking up much needed points, ‘Rangers have dropped into the bottom three – where they are currently three points from safety, although this is a game on hand on most of the sides in the bottom half of the table.
Last week certainly wasn’t the best week of Mauricio Pochettino’s reign as Totthenham manager as they dropped vital points in the hunt for fourth, got knocked out of the Europa League to Fiorentina, and lost 2-0 in the League Cup final to Chelsea at Wembley. Credit to Spurs, though, despite all those disappointments they picked themselves up and got their season back on track with a much needed victory over Swansea at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, edging a five goal thriller. It leaves them six points behind fourth place Manchester United, but they can half that deficit with a win on Saturday.
Charlie Austin has been a revelation in what his first season playing in the Premier League. The striker has scored 15 league goals, meaning he is the top scoring Englishman in the league, one ahead of Spurs’ Harry Kane. His goals will obviously be vital to the fate of QPR, and having already scored against Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea this season, he will fancy his chances of adding to his tally this weekend.
Spurs have enjoyed their travels for the most past this season, recording six wins and two draws from 12 games. What will give them confidence of getting all three points from this match is the success they have had away to sides in the bottom half of the table. As it stands, Tottenham have played seven of the current bottom 10 clubs, winning five and losing only one of them. It’s strong form and something which they have struggled to do in recent seasons.
Playing two top seven clubs in the space of three days is a big ask for any team, let alone for QPR. Unsurprisingly for a side in the bottom three they have lost four and drawn one against clubs in that top seven. Compare that with the from of Spurs against struggling teams then I can only really fancy an away win here. If you don’t like taking odds on shots away from home in the Premier League, then chance both teams to score and Tottenham win which is 12/5 with Ladbrokes.
Tottenham 5/6 @ William Hill
