QPR Face Stoke In Uninspiring Early Kick-Off

Queens Park Rangers meet Stoke City at Loftus Road in tomorrow`s early kick-off (20th September, 12:45) with both teams looking to recover from decisive defeats last time out.

Tomorrow`s home side QPR were put to the sword by a Manchester United side refreshed and reinvigorated by the debuts of a number of summer signings last week. Goals from Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata saw Harry Redknapp`s men comprehensively beaten in a game the Hoops` manager claimed was indicative of his team`s lack of fitness. A solitary win in four games sees the R`s two places and one measly point above the Premier League drop zone.

Stoke couldn`t record back-to-back wins after their 1-0 away victory at Manchester City, with one goal again proving to be the difference as they fell to a defeat at the hands of new boys Leicester City. The Foxes` £8 million signing Leonardo Ulloa collected his third goal of the season midway through the second half to claim the three points for Nigel Pearson`s men. Led by former QPR manager Mark Hughes, the Potters` have accumulated four points from four and sit 14th in the league.

It`s is Stokes` superior points tally and their dogged performance at the Etihad that sees the West Midlands team the 9/5 (Numerous) match favourites despite their away disadvantage. Such odds are in conflict with the views of former Tottenham boss Redknapp who told a press conference that his team were capable of beating `anybody at home`.

`I watched them [Stoke City] against Leicester and I thought they played ever so well first-half.` The 67-year-old told a pre-match press conference.

`It`ll be a tough game, but we`re at home, we`re positive and we`re looking forward to the game.

`I think we`ve got a chance of beating anybody at home.`

For those expecting `Arry to be proved right, the R`s can be backed at 15/8 with Betvictor and boylesports, with a draw being offered at 9/4 (Coral).

For such confidence to be rewarded, however, QPR will have to pose a greater attacking threat, having scored just one goal in four games. In this regard, they will look to summer signings and Redknapp veterans Sandro and Niko Kranjcar, the latter being the team`s only beacon of hope in their Manchester pasting. A late substitute in that game, Napoli loan signing Eduardo Vargas should be fit despite receiving stitches to the head in the U-21s` 2-1 victory against Millwall. Unlike his teammates, the Chilean had no problem finding the net, bagging a goal in just under 69 seconds.

Whilst Stoke have also been wasteful in front of goal, scoring just twice in their first four fixtures, only second-placed Aston Villa have conceded fewer goals in the league, re-emphasising the need for the likes of Charlie Austin, Kranjcar and Vargas to convert the chances they do get. Somewhat contrarily, the three goals Asmir Begovic has picked out of his own net, however, have all come in different matches, the implication being that whilst City might not concede a lot, they have been conceding one on a game-to-game basis.

Seven to one (Betvictor) on a 1-0 home win says that QPR take advantage of this weekly lapse in concentration whilst shutting up shop down at their own end. Their own leaky defence, however, suggests that there`s not much chance of that. Perhaps a much safer bet would be to grab odds of 11/10 (william hill) on both sides grabbing a goal. Stoke will be looking towards Manchester City talisman Mame Biram Diouf and ex-Wigan star Victor Moses to provide inspiration going forward and to create a further dent in the R`s abysmal -8 goal difference.

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19/09/2014     © Frixo 2026