English Premier
2011-12-18 - QPR vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps
Football : England : Premiership
Sunday 18th December - Kickoff 12:00pm
QPR
Warnock's side currently occupy 13th place in the league and have been "quiet" these last few weeks. With Rovers, Wigan and Bolton really struggling below them, Rangers have just gone about their business and whilst the current form isn't spectacular they have been picking up points, just!
With a 4 points cushion to the drop zone, Rangers know a defeat for them this weekend and a win for the bottom 3 will really suck them back into the relegation race. However, a win for Rangers could propel them up into the top 10 given how close the mid-lower table is this season.
There is a slight concern that Rangers have only won 1 of their last 6 games but they are competing in a lot of these games. I don't worry for Rangers as I do with the sides below them because they have a decent squad and the results should improve.
The home form in particular needs to improve with Rangers ranking 17th in the home table. The only win registered this season was against Chelsea (1-0) after the Blues had 9 men and even then they had chance to claim a surprise draw.
The good news is that they haven't lost many games (just twice) against Bolton (0-4) and Man City (2-3). Warnock's side has drawn against Newcastle (0-0), Villa (1-1), Rovers (1-1) and West Brom (1-1) with Rangers just lacking that bit of firepower to claim all 3 points.
15 goals in 15 games tells a story and at this level you need more than 1 goal to win games. Of their 4 wins 3 have been to nil which is excellent but against United I can't see that happening. Unless Rangers suddenly start taking their chances it's unlikely that they will take points off the Red Devils given they just scored 4 this past weekend.
QPR Team News
Dyer, Hulse and Rowlands miss out whilst doubts remain over Connolly, Ferdinand, Kenny and Taarabt for Sunday's clash.
Despite the injuries, Rangers can put out a solid lineup in a 4-4-2 shape that will be spearheaded by the due of Helguson and Wright-Phillips.
Behind them Barton and Faulin must have good games in the middle of the park against United's weakened midfield whilst Smith and Mackie provide the ammunition out wide.
Finally at the back Hill and Gabbidon will be kept busy dealing with Rooney and Wellbeck whilst Cerny if he starts is not at the same level of Kenny in between the sticks.
Manchester United
United have been given a lifeline after leaders City lost away at Chelsea on Monday night. The Red Devils only trail their rivals by 2 points and with United playing before City this weekend they can really put the pressure on with an away win at QPR.
Despite crashing out of the Champions League, United's domestic form has been sensational since losing to City back in October. In the 6 games since that defeat United has won 5, drawing 1 and taking 16 points from a possible 18.
I was going to comment on their amazing defensive transformation following that game where they shipped in 6 against City. In the games since then, United has amassed 4 clean sheets and conceded just 2.
However, the clean sheets were all with Vidic marshalling the back line but with him out for the season I don't trust the backline as much as I did with him. Rio and Evra have not been great this year whilst Evans and Smalling are under a lot of pressure to perform week in week out.
Fortunately they face a side that isn't scoring lots at the moment but nor did Wolves who they faced at the weekend and Fletcher managed to score a goal completely against the run of play. With a packed Loftus Road and it being the early kick off I really wouldn't be surprised to see Rangers getting 1 if not 2 on Sunday.
Man United Team News
Berbatov, Cleverley, Rafael da Silva, Fabio da Silva, Fletcher, Hernández, Anderson, Owen and Vidic all miss out for the Red Devils this weekend.
Fergy will go with a back four of Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Smalling which is still a decent lineup. In midfield United are missing men all over the place and look light in the central midfielder department. With Fletcher now out as well as Cleverley and Anderson, United may go with Jones and Carrick to combat Faulin and Barton.
Out wide thankfully Nani and Young are fit and they should have good games against the Rangers full backs. Up top Rooney and Wellbeck is a decent combination that against Hill and Gabbidon should be victorious come the end of the 90 minutes.
The Betting Verdict
Champions United have won their last 3 away games all by a 1-0 scoreline and their last 5 on the road have all been unders. However, this weekend I think we are due some goals.
The loss of Vidic at the back is huge for me and against a side like Rangers that won't sit back and play for a draw, many chances should be created at both ends.
The United midfield also worries me in the middle whilst out wide I see the wingers causing havoc all afternoon long. I feel right now both sides are likely to have more success going forward than defending and we should see some action on Sunday.
Stats are against me here as Rangers have had a run of 5 home unders from their last 6 home games. However, against a more elite side in Man City their game did go comfortably over whilst against Chelsea there should have been goals even when it was 11 v 9!
For those who are 100% about the stats, unders is the play but for me I'm going with overs as I feel this is a must win game for United, but a game I can see them conceding in.
With City playing after United, an away win puts them top momentarily but a 1-0/2-0 away win just doesn't look on given :
a) How attacking QPR will be
b) United's forward line impressing last week getting 4 against Wolves.
So an Away win in the call, but taking the overs is a much better value play..
Good Luck
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
QPR 1-3 Man United
