The Championship play-offs are often full of drama and excitement and it’s not expected to be any different this time around. Wigan host QPR in the first leg of their semi-final having made their charge late on in relation to the other teams involved in the end of season showdowns. When Uwe Rosler took over from Owen Coyle back in December, Wigan were 14th in the Championship – fast forward five months and they finished a comfortable fifth, affording to lose three of their last four league games. Having only been relegated from the Premier League the previous season, it will have been a terrific achievement if the former Brentford boss can lead them back at the first time of asking.
QPR were everybody’s favourites to win this season’s Championship and return to the Premier League. Their spending power and wage bill is well documented but Harry Redknapp and his players have been unable to reach the height that many expected of them. They have won just half their games in the regular season which is mainly down to the fact that they have struggled for form on the road, losing 10 and winning only eight games – the lowest points return of the top eight sides. They also don’t have the advantage of coming into the play-offs with any real momentum, recording three wins in their last eight.
Wigan are another side who have much preferred playing in front of their own fans this season picking up 18 points more than they have away from the DW Stadium. They have only lost two home games under Rosler which is clearly something he looks to build upon as he had a similarly strong record at Brentford. Another home win would be a huge boost as they look to take an advantage into the second leg.
Redknapp will be delighted that his £6m striker Charlie Austin has returned to fitness and is scoring goals again. The former Burnley player was missing for nearly three months through injury. His first season at Loftus Road has been very decent, scoring 17 goals despite that absence. He’s hit the ground running on his return as well, finding the back of the net in his last three matches.
This looks like being a game of small margins as both managers can be very pragmatic in their approaches. Neither will want to give anything away ahead of the return leg a few days later. QPR have struggled on the road this season, however, especially against the top sides, which is why I think Wigan will just edge this encounter in a very close contest.
Wigan 5/4 @ Bet365
