QPR v Aston Villa: not even Harry can get Hoops winning yet

Harry Redknapp’s appointment as boss of QPR may have given them a glimmer of hope in avoiding relegation but it will take more than a couple of weeks for him to turn things around.

In fact, it will probably take a shed-load of cash in the January transfer window to give them any chance whatsoever of avoiding the drop and perhaps the most tempting bet currently available on the Hoops is the very generous 4/5 on them to get relegated.

This weekend though, the best bet looks to be backing the Hoops to at least avoid defeat against Paul Lambert’s men.

QPR were involved in a goalless draw against Sunderland in the week and, for the first hour against Manchester United last weekend, were extremely competitive.

Meanwhile, Villa’s recent form has suggested that the threat of relegation – something that seemed very real a few weeks ago – is waning. They may have lost both enounters with the Manchester giants in recent weeks but a goalless draw against Arsenal and another shut-out in their 1-0 win against Reading bodes well for a climb into the comforting embrace of mid-table.

They’ve struggled to score though and, with Darren Bent not getting anywhere near the team, they have the worst away attack in the division, having failed to score on four of their seven trips away from Villa Park this term.

With QPR ‘boasting’ the worst home attacking record in the division (they average just 0.67 goals at Loftus Road) another uninspiring low-scoring game looks on the cards.

Backing the game to finish level with under 2.5 goals scored at 12/5 could yield a very tasty pay out.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date