QPR v WATFORD
FA Cup
Friday 15th February 2019
Kickoff: 1945hrs
Pick: Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker: Betfair
Odds: 2.10 (odds taken at 02:13 GMT, 15 Feb 2019)
The FA Cup returns this weekend with the 5th round matches being played over the next four days, starting with Friday night’s clash between two London clubs as QPR take on Watford as the betting tips continue.
QPR Prediction
QPR reached the 5th round of the FA Cup thanks to wins over Leeds United and Portsmouth who are both flying high in the Championship and League One respectively, and although results in the Championship have taken a turn for the worse, the hosts will be confident they can get a positive result here and progress to the 6th round.
After a promising September, October and November in the Championship which saw QPR record 10 league wins and lose just five matches that had placed QPR close to the play-off pack, it’s been a miserable turn of the year for the hosts as they’ve lost their last five league matches on the trot in the second tier.
Defeats to Sheffield United, Preston North End, Wigan Athletic, Birmingham City and Bristol City have all but sealed their fate for another season in the Championship, but a drop to 18th place should be a massive wake-up call for The R’s ahead of this cup-tie.
That said, they still possess goal threats in the shape of forwards Wells (6 goals), Freeman (5 goals), Smith (4 goals) and Hemed (3 goals), and they have very little to lose here.
- QPR have lost their last 5 league matches on the trot in the Championship
- 11 of QPR’s 19 home matches have resulted over 2.5 goals
- Watford have won 4 of their last 7 away matches in all competitions
Watford Prediction
This is usually the stage in the FA Cup where the Premier League clubs who are fortunate not to be involved in a desperate relegation battle start taking this competition seriously as the prospect and possibility of further financial gain in the shape of European football next season becomes an attractive proposition.
Watford, sitting in 8th place in the Premier League and 13 points adrift of a Europa League spot and possessing a 13 point cushion ahead of the relegation zone, are a prime example of a top flight team that should now be chasing an FA Cup win.
The Hornets have shown promising form in recent weeks in the Premier League too as the visitors have lost just once in their last seven matches overall which has virtually guaranteed top flight football for next season.
The pressure is therefore now off, so Watford manager Javi Gracia should field a strong side for this tie, with goal threats from forwards Deeney (5 goals), Gray (4 goals) and Deulofeu (3 goals).
Betting Tips Verdict
QPR are in a position where they have nothing to lose and we should see the hosts really going for it here, particularly with manager Steve McClaren desperately wanting to bring some success to the R’s. On the flip side, Watford have now made themselves safe from relegation so the shackles should be off for them here too. Expect goals here.
