A lot of goals in the clash of two promotion contenders?

The wheat will be separated from the chaff in the FA Cup this weekend. While many top teams from the Premier League are only now entering the prestigious cup competition, the air is getting thinner and thinner for clubs lower down the table. At the same time, of course, hopes are growing for additional financial income or an extremely attractive opponent.

Queens Park Rangers and Rotherham United also have a realistic chance of reaching the fourth round. A successful prediction on the home side is currently seen as more likely, which is of course due to the fact that they are based in the second-tier Championship, while the guests from the city of around 100,000 inhabitants near Sheffield go about their daily business one tier lower in League One.

Nevertheless, it is clear from the odds ahead of the clash between QPR and Rotherham United that the bookmakers do not expect the team of manager Mark Warburton to be a sure-fire winner. Despite the difference in class, a respectable 1.88 is offered on a home win after regular time. More value is therefore probably hidden in an alternative bet, possibly on a relatively high number of goals.

QPR – Statistics & current form

Now in their seventh consecutive year, Queens Park Rangers are a fixture in the English second division. For the team from London, which was even runner-up on the island in 1976, it has long since become a habit not to surround themselves with the big names of national football. In the Championship, too, there were no particularly positive results in the past seasons. Ninth place in the previous season was the highest of feelings.

But that could change in 2021/22, because contrary to many experts’ predictions in the summer, Mike Warburton’s team has been convincing so far. With 41 points from 24 games, they are currently fifth in the intermediate rankings. Although the top half of the table is relatively tight, the capital club can therefore have serious hopes of a return to the Premier League.

Rangers can play with complete freedom in the cup

The recent two victories at Bristol City and Birmingham also speak in favour of this. In both cases, the Super Hoops won 2-1 to end a two-match losing streak. Overall, the Blue and Whites are also in good form, as the two aforementioned defeats were the only ones in the past ten league games.

While in the Championship, the average number of goals scored per game in games involving the promotion aspirants is just under 2.8, the cup games so far have been even more spectacular. Although Rangers make their FA Cup debut on Saturday, they have already reached the last 16 in the less important League Cup. On the way there, they defeated Everton, among others. The final defeat came against third division side Sunderland. In three of the four games, the penalty shoot-out had to decide the outcome.

On the basis of these performances, it becomes clear above all that the cup competitions are a nice addition for the Warburton eleven. The priority, of course, is to achieve their goals in the Championship, so the Super Hoops like to be tempted to take a bit more of a risk in the corresponding cup games. Not least because of this, we think a bet on at least three goals in the course of the game between QPR and Rotherham is very exciting. Especially because the coach will probably rotate a bit, which could be at the expense of a stable defence.

Predicted line-up of QPR:
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Last games of QPR:

Championship
01/02 2022 – Birmingham 1 – 2 Queens Park Rangers

12/30 2021 –  Bristol City 1 – 2 Queens Park Rangers

12/27 2021 – Queens Park Rangers 0 – 1 Bournemouth

12/05 2021 – Queens Park Rangers 0 – 2 Stoke

11/29 2021 – Derby 1 – 2 Queens Park Rangers

Rotherham – Statistics & current form

Rotherham United are the epitome of a lift team on the island. However, there are not many floors to climb with this lift, because since 2013/2014, the Millers shuttle back and forth between the second and third league. Two promotions and three relegations in this short period of time have ensured that the club, which experienced a heyday after the Second World War, is currently back in the third-tier League One.

However, the club’s relegation does not have to last long, as after 24 games the Red and Whites are once again well on the way to immediate promotion. As leaders, they are currently five points ahead of third place. However, their fiercest rivals for the championship, Wigan Athletic, still have three matches up their sleeve and can overtake them if they get the right results.

The Millers want to go back up

Nevertheless, the promising starting position logically underlines that the Millers’ focus is not on one of the cup competitions, but on the domestic championship. Perhaps this will also make it easier for the League One leaders to play boldly forward on Saturday afternoon in London.

Although there are now no replays in the event of a draw after normal time, coach Paul Warne would certainly not be entirely unhappy if his team did not have to go into extra time. The reason for this is the packed fixture list, which has a total of 46 match days in the third division.

In addition, the club, which has always been eliminated in the third round of the FA Cup in the last three years, was only in action on Tuesday night in the EFL Trophy (4:2 victory against Crewe Alexandra), which again can be used as an argument to justify odds of over 2.5 goals between QPR and Rotherham at the weekend. We’ll see a changed starting eleven at the supposed underdogs too, that much seems certain.

Predicted Rotherham line-up:
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Last games of Rotherham:

EFL Trophy Final Stage
01/04 2022 – Crewe 2 – 4 Rotherham

League One
01/01 2022 – Rotherham 2 – 1 Bolton

12/26 2021 – Accrington 1 – 0 Rotherham

12/18 2021 – Cambridge U 0 – 1 Rotherham

12/11 2021 – Rotherham 3 – 1 Burton

QPR – Rotherham Direct comparison / H2H record

18 matches were played between the two teams in the second English league. QPR won eight games, while United still had the upper hand in six (four draws). Even more interesting, however, is the fact that between Queens Park Rangers and Rotherham, the prediction of at least three goals in the course of play would have paid off in seven of the most recent eight duels.

QPR – Rotherham Tip

Looking at the last results of both teams, one doesn’t necessarily think of placing a bet on three or more goals after 90 minutes. On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that there is a lot to be said for a cup match with goals.

Especially the fact that the teams are playing at the top of their leagues, are in good shape and thus brimming with self-confidence is certainly a weighty argument. In addition, the promising starting positions in the Championship and League One also mean that the focus is on the league and the cup weekend is possibly being used to recharge one’s batteries.

In fact, we believe that both teams will play forward and for victory. In seven of the last eight direct duels, more than two goals were scored and also this time between QPR and Rotherham the tip on the over 2.5 is our first option. Six units at top odds of 2.00 seem absolutely justifiable as a stake.

If you want to get even better odds before the third-round match between QPR and Rotherham, you can even try betting on the underdog to progress. Here Betway offers 2.80 at the top.