English Premier
2012-04-21 - QPR vs Tottenham Hotspur
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 21 April 2012 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
QPR
Mark Hughes must have felt his team was getting enough points to keep themselves out of trouble, but the form of Wigan Athletic means QPR are the most in danger of falling back into the relegation zone, especially considering Bolton Wanderers have two games in hand. QPR have been playing very well at home recently, but a tame 1-0 loss at West Brom last week disappointed Hughes and he will want a reaction.
QPR are 17th in the Premier League, but are just 2 points clear of Bolton in the relegation places with the latter having a couple of extra games to play. It is also conceivable that Rangers will be in the relegation come kick off as they begin around 40 minutes after Bolton and Blackburn Rovers have played. Rangers have improved their record to 5-5-7 at Loftus Road, scoring 22 goals and conceding 25.
The team have actually interchanged wins and losses over the last 7 Premier League games, winning all 3 they have played at Loftus Road, while losing all 4 they have played away from home. Rangers have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Swansea here in their last 3 games, scoring at least 2 goals in each of those wins, and they have picked up 10 points from their last 12 available here since a 0-1 loss to Fulham.
Fitz Hall could return to the squad this week, while both DJ Campbell and Heidar Helguson will be pushing for starts alongside Bobby Zamora.
Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Redknapp must have felt a little aggrieved as his side were beaten in the FA Cup Semi Final last week thanks in part to a goal that was given by Martin Atkinson, despite going nowhere near crossing the line. Now he has to focus his side on getting a top 4 finish in the hope that Chelsea don't win the Champions League and Tottenham Hotspur can play in that competition next season.
Spurs are currently 4th in the table but know that would only mean a Europa League berth if Chelsea were to win the Champions League this season. Even finishing 4th is not secured as they currently hold that spot thanks to a superior goal difference over Newcastle United, although they could close the gap to Arsenal above them if results go their way on Saturday. The team are 6-5-5 away from home this season, scoring 22 goals and conceding 21.
It just seems Spurs go from one heavy blow to another in recent weeks, the latest being their collapse at Wembley when beaten 5-1 by Chelsea last weekend in the FA Cup Semi Final. That came off the back of a 1-2 home loss to Norwich City and they have now failed to win any of their last 3 games. Spurs have now picked up just 6 points from the last 24 available in the League overall, while they have failed to win any of their last 7 away League games. In fact, Spurs have failed to score in 4 of their last 5 away games.
Harry Redknapp will be hoping to welcome back Younes Kaboul to the heart of the defence. Niko Kranjcar could also be available for selection.
Head to Head
Tottenham beat QPR 3-1 at White Hart Lane earlier this season, but a lot has changed since that meeting back in October.
This will be the first meeting at Loftus Road between the sides since the 1995/96 season when Spurs won 2-3.
Prediction
The first thing I am going to say about this game is that Tottenham Hotspur are remarkably short considering their form and QPR look an awfully tempting pick considering they have beaten Liverpool, Arsenal and Swansea here in consecutive home games.
However, while Spurs have not been winning away games, they have been solid defensively for the most part and kept clean sheets while visiting Liverpool, Chelsea and Sunderland, although the lack of goals is really concerning considering the attacking talent they have in the squad.
I would have been happy to pick QPR to score at least 2 goals, as they have done in their last 3 here, if Spurs had not been defending as well as they have been away from home in recent weeks, but it does take me to picking the Overs.
There haven't been many goals in Tottenham away games recently, but it has been a combination of bad luck and poor finishing that has cost them rather than a lack of chances. QPR are not a team that defends as well as the likes of Chelsea and Sunderland and I am sure they will give Tottenham opportunities as they did against Arsenal and Liverpool here.
Neither side is going to come out and settle for a point as it won't really benefit them for their respective ambitions and there are more than enough attacking talent on the pitch to ensure we see a few goals.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
QPR 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
