Newcastle’s price to beat QPR too good to refuse despite form

Although Newcastle’s recent form is pretty woeful, at first glance 11/10 does look an amazing price that they win at home against opposition that has propped up the Premier League for 90 per cent of the season.

After finishing fifth last season, many expected the Magpies to be leading challengers for a top-four finish again.

However, they have instead fallen backwards rather than continued their progression and are now just two points above the drop, following a run of two wins in 12 games since Alan Pardew was rewarded with his eight-year contract.

QPR visit next and this should be a home game that the Toon should be winning.

But the absence of their two leading creative players Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa will not help their cause.

Neither will a troubled defence that has conceded at least two goals in five of their last eight games in all competitions, or QPR’s improved form under Harry Redknapp.

QPR finally won their first league fixture of the campaign against Fulham last time and have strung together a four-game unbeaten run.

They are 5/2 to beat Newcastle, with the draw available at 9/4.

Yet, preference is for Newcastle to get their season back on track, particularly at what seems to be a value price.

Eight of the last 11 meetings between this pair have been won by either side by a single goal and Newcastle to win by one goal stands out as the likely margin of victory here at 31/10.

Meanwhile, Demba Ba has been almost Newcastle’s sole source of goals and he has six in his last seven appearances at St James’ Park.

Ba is 9/2 to grab the opener and 6/5 to strike at any time in the 90 minutes.

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