STOKE CITY v QPR
Championship
Saturday 3rd August 2019
Kickoff: 1500hrs
Pick: Stoke City AH-0.25
Bookmaker: Betfred
Odds: 1.57 (odds taken at 02:28 GMT, 03 August 2019)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.80 | 3.50 | 4.72 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on August 03, 2019 at 02:28)
Following the opening match of the Championship on Friday night, this Saturday marks the first weekend of the new season in the second tier and our next preview features Stoke City playing host to QPR as the betting tips continue at the bet365 Stadium.
Stoke City Prediction – Can Stoke City start winning again?
To say last season was a disappointing season for Stoke City is an understatement as The Potters finished in a lowly 16th place on the Championship ladder.
The hosts were amongst the pre-season favourites for promotion, and in Stoke’s case, a swift return back to the Premier League following relegation the season before.
However, their plans for a quick return to the big time were left in tatters after being held to way too many draws during the season.
By the end of February, Stoke had slumped to 18th place in the Championship even though they’d installed former Luton Town manager, Nathan Jones, in the bet365 Stadium hot-seat.
Jones replaced former manager, Garry Rowett, in January, but so far, Jones has made an inauspicious start to his Stoke City tenure.
Under Jones, Stoke have managed just 3 wins during his 21-match reign to date, a sequence that also includes no fewer than 11 draws.
Stoke City were by far and away the Championship’s ‘draw specialists’ as 22 of their 46 matches played ended in frustrating and disappointing stalemates.
9 of Stoke’s 22 draws ended in dour 0-0 draws so the arrival of former Wigan playmaker, Nick Powell is certainly a welcome addition to the squad.
QPR Prediction – Can QPR avoid relegation battle?
It was also a season to forget for QPR in the Championship last term as The R’s finished in a bitterly disappointing 19th place although relegation was never a serious worry.
The London club finished with a comfortable 11 point cushion ahead of third from bottom side, Rotherham United, but it’ll be scant consolation for their fans.
The bad news is that QPR’s situation looks set to worsen as there’s been a mass exodus from the club during the summer which has seen some key players leaving the club.
Forwards Luke Freeman (to Sheffield United), Matt Smith (to Millwall) and defender Darnell Furlong (to West Brom) have left big holes in the squad.
To make matters worse, the loans of Nakhi Wells and Tomer Hemed have expired and they’ve returned to their parent clubs, leaving QPR very light up front.
New manager, Mark Warburton, will be tested to the limit to keep QPR up this season and he’ll be relying on Pugh (Bournemouth), Eze and forward Hugill (on loan) for inspiration.
With just 1 away win from their last 11 trips on the road, QPR’s immediate future is starting to look very bleak indeed.
Key-Facts – Stoke City v QPR
- Stoke City drew 22 of their 46 matches in the Championship last season
- Stoke City recorded 9 clean sheets at home in the Championship
- QPR managed just 1 away win from their last 11 matches on their travels
Betting Tips Verdict
It’s a battle between two very ordinary looking teams but Stoke appear to have the edge over QPR in this opening clash.
