QPR v West Ham: A point apiece beckons for London rivals
Published:Struggling QPR host newly-promoted West Ham at Loftus Road, with a draw looking the most likely outcome.
And Mark Hughes’ new-look side can be backed at 23/10 to share the spoils with Sam Allardyce’s resilient Hammers.
QPR made a splash in the transfer market this summer, but currently prop up the Premier League with just two points from five games.
West Ham will be satisfied by their return to the top flight, having picked up eight points from five matches to place them in 10th position.
With the R’s players still getting to know one another, and Allardyce blasting his defence for their mid-week League Cup exit, a stalemate could be on the cards.
QPR have already shipped 11 league goals this term, and while West Ham have a good defensive record in the division, a 1-1 draw looks good value at 6/1.
Alternatively, a 2-2 result is priced at 14/1, but avoiding the specific result in favour of supporting a score draw could prove more value at 3/1.
Little can be gleaned from the two club’s recent record against one another, with their last clashes providing a home win each during the 2004/05 Championship season.
Much has changed for both outfits since then, particularly QPR who are now backed by wealthy Asian owners.
However, the two sides are similar on paper, although West Ham’s better start to the season makes their 13/5 odds to win tempting. QPR are 21/20 to take the three points.
If you are going to back the Hammers, then betting on both teams to score in a West Ham victory is a well priced 11/2.
In the goal markets, Bobby Zamora is the 5/1 favourite to open the scoring for the home side, having bagged all three of QPR’s goals in the Premier League so far.
As is strike partner Djibril Cisse, and the pair are also 11/8 each to score at anytime.
For the visitors, the absence of the injured Andy Carroll suggests that goalscoring midfielder Kevin Nolan is likely to shoulder the responsibility of finding the net.
Priced at 9/1 to break the deadlock and at 3/1 to score anytime, appear great value bets for a player who has scored more than 12 league goals in each of his last three seasons.
Carlton Cole can’t be discounted either, with a price of 13/2 to be the first goalscorer.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
