QPR are aiming for the promotion places

Rangers are currently shaking up the Championship and have impressively underlined their promotion ambitions recently. QPR have not lost a match in the league since matchday 14 and are currently brimming with confidence. Sunday’s opponents Stoke City therefore come in handy, especially as QPR have not lost any of their last six competitive matches against the Potters.

Given Rangers’ current form, it stands to reason that the ongoing series will continue on Sunday. After all, QPR are one of the strongest home teams in the league. Stoke City, on the other hand, have already lost five out of ten away games. Most recently, the Potters even suffered a defeat against 18th-placed Bristol.

Betting fans looking to back Rangers on QPR vs Stoke can pick up odds of up to 2.45 if they are successful. The last time the visitors from Stoke-on-Trent visited London, it was a goalless draw at QPR’s Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Nonetheless, we see the London hosts as clear favourites on Sunday, unlike the bookies. After all, QPR have only lost one home game against Stoke City since March 2006. QPR head coach Mark Warburton’s record against the Potters is also encouraging: so far, the 59-year-old Englishman has never lost a competitive match against Stoke.

QPR – Statistics & current form

The last time QPR were represented in the English top flight was in the 2014/15 season, since then the Londoners have been playing in the second-tier Championship. In recent years, Queens Park Rangers have stayed out of the Championship promotion race. Five of the last six seasons QPR even finished in double figures.

The current situation in the 2021/22 Championship is therefore all the more surprising. After 20 match days, QPR are among the narrow circle of potential promotion candidates this season. Last Monday, QPR jumped to third place and, if they win against Stoke on Sunday, they will have the chance to close the gap on the two direct promotion places.

Friday’s game between Fulham and Bournemouth ended in a draw, much to QPR’s delight. For the Hoops, Sunday’s home game comes in handy, especially as QPR head coach Mark Warburton’s side have taken 21 of their 35 points at home this season.

Will a fourth win in a row be on the cards?

There have been three wins in a row for Rangers recently, including the most recent match against Derby County. In the ten home games so far this season, QPR have had six wins, three draws and only one defeat. Warburton’s side have won five of their last six home games. Most recently, there were even two consecutive clean sheets at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

If Rangers can continue their recent run of form, it is likely that they will also score three points against Sunday’s opponents from Stoke-on-Trent. This is supported by the recent record against the Potters. QPR have won three of their last four games against Stoke City.

If Warburton & Co. celebrate the next victory against the Potters, odds of 2.45 are currently paid out for QPR vs Stoke for tip 1. As in the away game against Derby County, Rangers will be at their best for the most part on Sunday. Due to injury, only Sam Field will miss this weekend’s match.

Projected line-up of QPR:
Dieng – Dickie, Dunne, Barbet – Adomah, Johansen, Dozzell, Odubajo – Chair – Gray, Willock

Last matches played by QPR:

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

11/24 2021 – Queens Park Rangers 1 – 0 Huddersfield

11/19 2021 – Queens Park Rangers 2 – 0 Luton

11/06 2021 – Blackpool 1 – 1 Queens Park Rangers

11/03 2021 – Cardiff 0 – 1 Queens Park Rangers

Stoke – Statistics & current form

Stoke City, meanwhile, are still difficult to classify. Just a fortnight ago, head coach Michael O’Neill’s side were in one of the four spots for the promotion play-offs. Because Stoke failed to pick up any points on the last two matchdays, the Potters have already slipped down to seventh place.

Last week, Stoke City even suffered a heavy defeat against Blackburn, a direct competitor in the promotion race. Nevertheless, the Potters remain confident, especially since the gap to the starting positions for the play-offs is only two points. However, another defeat cannot be ruled out this weekend.

After all, QPR is not one of the Potters’ favourite opponents. Since March 2006, Stoke City have won only one of eight away games at their upcoming opponents from London. Considering how weak O’Neill’s team has been away from home so far, it is by no means out of the question that the current negative trend at QPR will continue.

Loading offense?

The Potters’ offence in particular has left a poor impression of late. After all, Stoke City remained without a goal in the last two matchdays, including the most recent defeat against Blackburn. Before that, Stoke scored a total of 24 goals in 18 matchdays – an average of 1.33 goals per league match.

Jacob Brown, the key player in the Potters’ attack with five goals and four assists, played a big part in that. Last week Brown was replaced by veteran Steven Fletcher after a poor second-half performance. It is quite possible that Brown will even have to make way for the substitutes’ bench after the recent performance.

Against QPR on Sunday, Michael O’Neill will be missing a total of four players through injury, including long-term casualties Josef Bursik and Harry Souttar. The latter will even miss the entire 2021/22 season after tearing his cruciate ligament.

Predicted Stoke line-up:
Davies – Ostigard, Batth, Chester – Smith, Sawyers, Allen, Tymon – Vrancic – Brown, Fletcher

Last matches played by Stoke:

Championship
11/27 2021 – Stoke 0 – 1 Blackburn

11/24 2021 – Bristol City 1 – 0 Stoke

11/20 2021 – Stoke 2 – 0 Peterboro

11/06 2021 – Luton 0 – 1 Stoke

11/03 2021 – Blackpool 0 – 1 Stoke

QPR – Stoke Direct comparison / H2H record

This is the 15th time the two clubs have met in the Championship. QPR have won seven of the previous 14 second division matches against Stoke City. The Potters, on the other hand, have prevailed three times, while four other games have ended in a draw. Queens Park Rangers have not lost a competitive match against Stoke since January 2015.

Meanwhile, QPR are unbeaten in six matches in a row. Last season, there was a draw at QPR’s stadium in the first half of the season. In return, the Hoops were able to prevail at Stoke in the second leg. In both games, the London club remained without conceding a goal.

QPR – Stoke Tip

QPR, meanwhile, are the most in-form side in the Championship based on their last five results. Week after week the London club fought their way up the table, meanwhile Rangers are already in third place and aiming for the promotion places. On Sunday, QPR even have the chance to close the gap on the direct promotion places.

The match against Stoke City comes in handy for Queens Park Rangers. After all, Mark Warburton and his team have won three of the last four competitive matches against the Potters. The Hoops have also not lost at home to Stoke City since April 2013 – a good omen ahead of Sunday’s match?

Although the Potters have recently suffered two defeats in a row, the bookmakers see Stoke City as only minimal underdogs. This is a surprising assessment, as QPR are one of the strongest teams at home in the Championship.

We therefore see value in the high odds on a home win. For QPR vs Stoke, our betting odds of 2.45 are on Rangers. We are betting a total of six out of ten possible units for this.