QPR vs Birmingham City: Betting Odds & Prediction
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Queens Park Rangers host Birmingham City on Friday afternoon.
Both teams are at risk of falling into the relegation zone of the Sky Bet Championship if results go against them elsewhere, with Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday hot on their heels.
Gary Rowett has returned to Birmingham City as their manager on an interim basis ahead of the fixture, taking charge of the club for the second time after his controversial sacking in 2016. Kick-off is set for 3pm at Loftus Road.
Recent Form
Queens Park Rangers
The hosts seemed to have found form not long ago, with three consecutive victories including an away win against Leicester City who were league leaders at the time. However, since their trip to the King Power Stadium, QPR have failed to win in three matches, drawing 0-0 last time out against Sunderland.
QPR have struggled to score goals all season, scoring an average of only 0.95 goals per game in the Championship. They have performed slightly better at home, netting an average of 1.11 goals per game at Loftus Road, but still struggle to match their expected goals (xG) tally of 1.32. Martí Cifuentes’ side have failed to score in their last two matches and have netted in only 68% of their games in front of their home fans.
The Hoops defensive statistics at home leave much to be desired with an expected goals against (xGA) tally of 1.32 which they have underperformed on by conceding a worrying 1.53 goals per match at home. QPR have conceded in 79% of their matches in front of home fans.
Birmingham City
The visitors have only taken one point from their last six matches. This poor run of form has left them above the relegation zone by one place on goal difference alone, leading to the club bringing back old boss Rowett on an interim basis. Rowett will be the sixth man to lead Birmingham in the Championship this season.
They lost 1-0 to Watford last time out, making it three 1-0 defeats in a row. Three goals without a game reflects Birmingham’s poor goalscoring season, with the Blues netting an average of only 0.84 goals per game on the road this season, despite their expecting goals (xG) tally sitting much higher at 1.3. The visitors have failed to score in 42% of their away matches.
Rowett will have to fix a defence which has kept clean sheets in only 11% of their away matches. Birmingham’s expected goals against (xGA) tally on the road is 1.61, but the Blues have conceded an even higher average of 1.84 goals per away match.
Prediction
With the result of the fixture having huge implications for the relegation battle in the Championship, this one is tough to predict. QPR come into the tie as favourites due to Birmingham’s poor form on the road. Rowett may provide the visitors with hope of a ‘new manager bounce’ but will have a lot of work to do with his side clear underdogs with the bookmakers.
With both sides struggling in front of goal this season and particularly recently, a low scoring match can be expected, particularly after the return fixture between the two sides ended in a goalless draw earlier this season.