Man City to repeat Stoke display and beat QPR by odd goal
Published:Manchester City may have scored exactly three goals in each of their last three meetings with QPR, but they may struggle to replicate this feat at Loftus Road this season.
It is 23/20 that Roberto Mancini’s men score either two or three this time and 7/4 that they net over 2.5 goals.
However, the superior bet here may prove the 14/5 that Man City collect the three points by a margin of one goal.
This occurred twice last season with Man City beating QPR 3-2 on each occasion, while only an injury-time Carlos Tevez strike prevented a third instance at the Etihad in September.
Looking at QPR’s record against the big guns across the last season and a half, they very rarely capitulate, beating Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal.
Meanwhile, in the current campaign, their home fixtures with Chelsea and Tottenham have both finished goalless.
It is 6/5 that Man City also leave with a clean sheet and they are still to concede a goal in 2013. The obvious weakness with this bet is that Vincent Kompany will be missing from the defence after going off injured in the FA Cup win over Stoke.
Man City’s patience paid off in this Stoke success and more of the same will be needed at QPR, who are certain to completely change their own defence that was in such a charitable mood against MK Dons.
What will also be important is the protection offered by both Shaun Derry and Stephane Mbia in front of the back four.
Man City are 4/9 to outright win the game, with 13/2 a decent option in the correct scoreline market that the Premier League champions come through 1-0.
QPR are 11/2 to triumph and the likelihood of this result will chiefly hinge on the score at half time.
They have not led at the break once at home this season and mustered just two goals in the process.
If they can get to the break level they have a chance, with 21/10 a more than respectable price that QPR score more goals in the second period compared to the opening 45 minutes.
All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date
