English Premier
2012-09-15 - Queens Park Rangers vs Chelsea
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 15 September 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Queens Park Rangers
Mark Hughes has signed a huge number of players, but now he has to blend them together with the transfer window closed until January. He will be hoping that they have had enough time to get to know one another a little bit better so they don't have a repeat of their opening home game of the season.
On that occasion, Queens Park Rangers were beaten 0-5 by Swansea and they have now picked up just 1 point from their opening 3 League games and that leaves them in 19th place in the Premier League. However, QPR have beaten Walsall here in the Capital One Cup and did display a much improved performance in a 3-1 loss at Manchester City.
The loss to Swansea is the only one they have suffered at home in their last 8 games in all competitions going back to February. Rangers have also won 6 of their last 7 games at Loftus Road, including beating the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Samba Diakite has unfortunately been suffering from depression and has been given an extended leave by the club. Julio Cesar was the surprise signing in the transfer window and could make his debut in this one.
Chelsea
Chelsea will begin their defence of their Champions League trophy on Wednesday, but they won't be looking beyond this West London derby as they hope to maintain their 100% start to the Premier League season. I am sure Roberto Di Matteo is also very keen to erase the memories of their last game when they were thumped 4-1 by Atletico Madrid in the European Super Cup.
The team are top of the early Premier League table as the only team to have won all 3 League games they have played. Their one away game came at Wigan Athletic where they were perhaps a little fortunate, while the home wins over Reading and Newcastle United came through their own fortunes. Chelsea fans won't mind though as they bid to bring the title back to London since 2009.
The Blues have not exactly been a great away team to back in recent Premier League matches and their win to open the season at Wigan means they have now won just 3 of their last 13 away Premier League games. That trend goes back a little further as they now have won just 7 of their last 22 away games in the League.
Marko Marin is expected back in the squad for this game and that will mean Chelsea have a full squad to choose from for this one as long as John Terry has recovered from an injury that ruled him out for England on Tuesday night.
Head to Head
Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea met 3 times last season, with the latter winning 2 of those games.
They played 2 tight games at Loftus Road with both QPR and Chelsea earning a win each.
Chelsea did thump QPR 6-1 at Stamford Bridge last season and have also won 3 of their last 4 trips to Loftus Road.
Prediction
I hate the fact that Chelsea have been placed at odds on favourites to win this game and I don't think it is going to be that easy with the squad now also having Champions League commitments starting during the week with a tough home game against Juventus.
Queens Park Rangers played very well against Manchester City in their last game and slightly more composure in front of goal would have seen them earn something out of that game. That same kind of level of performance will see them come close to earning something from this game and I think they may just be able to do so.
The fact that this is a local derby should inspire the underdogs to put a big effort in and try and upset their more illustrious neighbours, although I am a touch concerned with the attacking ability that Chelsea have displayed coupled with Rangers' poor defensive record so far.
However, we have seen them play two tight games here last season and I also think Mark Hughes will not let them have another poor game like they did against Swansea so I'll be backing QPR to avoid defeat at odds against in this one.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Chelsea
